Hegel contextualised; within a world of complexity

All references: Hegel, GFW, The Phenomenology of Spirit, preface,

“Science of this pathway is the science of the experience which consciousness goes through” §36

The process of understanding encompasses the developmental stages, the making sense of experience; the process by which consciousness becomes increasingly complex, self-aware and conscious.

This is the same process demonstrated objectively in the history of science.

“When shown completely spirit has made its existence identical with its essence” §37

The process of understanding, when turned inwards, self-reflectively to understanding already formed, begins the process of its deconstruction, challenging ontological assumptions, making beliefs more coherent, and progress at the foundations. The process is only complete when one understanding one’s own nature; as spirit, but now with self awareness, and understanding of the process undertaken.

“What in former ages occupied men of mature mind, has been reduced to the level of facts, exercises and games for children” §28

The modern mind has reduced reality into separate epistemic theories and facts, logical sophistication, and argumentation without ever changing beliefs.

This ignores the underlying process of understanding; the process by which understanding and self form from experience.

Indeed, an increase in social complexity has seen men, who, in former simpler times, were once considered mature of mind, reduced to squabbling children.

“Let the other sciences try to argue as much as they like without philosophy - without it they can have in them neither life, spirit of truth” §67

Scientific knowledge concerns itself with what we believe we know, without understanding the scientific process, the progress made over time, the epistemic foundations of knowledge (i.e. where science began), or concern for the progress yet to make.

It fails to consider the human understanding out of which scientific inquiry began, nor considers the self-centric perspective from which such theories are interpreted.

Newton, providing an objective, mathematical foundation for modern science, effectively simplified understanding of reality by removing ourselves from the equation. It is time to add ourselves back in again.

Modern philosophy attempted to simplify our attempts at understanding of the world, by assuming the ‘rational self’ as an ontological foundation.

It is time to add depth and complexity back to our self-understanding.

“We must hold to the conviction that it is the nature of truth to prevail when its time has come… and that it only appears when its time has come… nor find a public ripe to receive it…” §71

An increase in societal complexity has seen the very public demonstration of the insufficiency of modern philosophy, a growing self-awareness, and its failures to explain or solve the problems of its concerns, and the manifest complexity of the world.

Given the manifest chaos within culture, the culmination of this chaotic phase of history, the obvious deficiency of understanding across culture, and the insufficiency of contemporary philosophy to explain it, I believe that the time for truth has come and that there is also a public ripe to receive it.

Given the manifest complexity, the collective uncertainty, there is no doubt a very willing public ready for truth to prevail, ready to realise it and help make it manifest, yet can’t quite conceive how it may be possible.