Single Idea 22039

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / A. Mind-Body Dualism / 1. Dualism]

Full Idea

Hegel argued that it was the impossibility of a naturalistic account of normativity that distinguished Geist from nature, not Geist's being any kind of metaphysical substance.

Clarification

'normativity' is creating rules; 'Geist' is human spirit in general

Gist of Idea

Geist is distinct from nature, not as a substance, but because of its normativity

Source

report of Georg W.F.Hegel (Philosophy of Mind (Encylopedia III) [1817]) by Terry Pinkard - German Philosophy 1760-1860 11

Book Reference

Pinkard,Terry: 'German Philosophy 1760-1860' [CUP 2002], p.278


A Reaction

Hegel always seems to want to have his cake and eat it. Without a mental substance, how can Geist not be part of nature? What is Geist made of? Is his view functionalist? But that is usually naturalistic. Is normativity magic?