Single Idea 21784

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 1. Slavery]

Full Idea

Slavery is in and for itself an injustice, for the essence of humanity is freedom.

Gist of Idea

Slavery is unjust, because humanity is essentially free

Source

Georg W.F.Hegel (The Philosophy of History [1840], p.99), quoted by Stephen Houlgate - An Introduction to Hegel 08 'Rights'

Book Reference

Houlgate,Stephen: 'An Introduction to Hegel' [Blackwell 2005], p.187


A Reaction

This is a corrective to Idea 12783, which offers a defence of the reality of historical slavery. That seemed to depend on some notion that each phase of history is necessary, which is implausible.

Related Idea

Idea 12783 Primitive force is what gives a composite its reality [Leibniz]