Verified Document

Hegel And Aristotle Aristotle's Belief Term Paper

Politics is a subject intrinsically linked to philosophy because the way men organize and conduct themselves socially and economically affects their ability and desire to use philosophy as a guiding principle. Aristotle and Hegel both shared strong views on the importance and use of the concept of "the state" as a tool to affect the safety and well-being of the individual man. Aristotle published two famous works that addressed politics directly. Nichomachean Ethics and Politics were originally two parts of the same work, but were eventually separated. In these works, Aristotle argues that "the true purpose of government is to enable its citizens to live the full and happy life discussed in his ethics" (Magee 39). Because man is, in his famous words, "a political animal," man needs political and social organization to attain the goal of happiness. Isolation might, according to Aristotle, breed selfishness and excess and violate his principle of moderation expressed by "the golden mean." Society, though, represents a balance and is the key to happiness. Because "the state" represents the organization of society, it has the potential to help people develop personal happiness (Magee 38-9).

Like Aristotle, Hegel also draws soundly on the role of the state and society in bringing happiness for the individual person. His book Elements of the Philosophy of Right was a "major work in political philosophy" (Redding 2). Hegel saw the history of the world as a progression from infancy to enlightenment, and the conflict and change that had accompanied history had helped move society closer to a position where the state could engender happiness and fulfillment. He viewed himself as part of the great historical progression of thought (that had begun with the Greek philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates) and saw in his life "the culmination of...

He saw this progression of the political and social levels as ending in a perfect and conflict-free "ideal state of affairs" where "further change will be neither necessary or desirable" (Magee 161). Hegel believed that an ideal state would express the general will of the people involved and "give expression to the general interest" (Redding 14). In his view, "the actualized freedom of universal history...is organized liberty, or freedom structured by a State" (Magill 370). It is easy to see how political groups such as the Nazis and the Communists (although widely divergent groups) took up Hegel's views in order to bolster their causes. The Nazis used Hegel to validate their fascist worshipping of the state and the Communists suggested that their political system would be the ideal end state that Hegel suggested. Just as Aristotle was part of a great chain of influence that began with Socrates and continued with his pupil Alexander the Great, Hegel, too, was both inspired by and an inspiration to others.
Aristotle's views about the importance of applying the field of logic to understanding the progression of human thought, his lust for knowledge, and his belief in the usefulness of the state are echoed centuries later in the belief and works of Georg Wilhem Friedrich Hegel.

Works Cited

Magee, Bryan. The Story of Philosophy. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2001.

Magill, Frank, ed. Masterpieces of World Philosophy. New York: HarperCollins,

Redding, Paul, "Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel," the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2006 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.)

URL=

http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2006/entries/hegel/.

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Magee, Bryan. The Story of Philosophy. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2001.

Magill, Frank, ed. Masterpieces of World Philosophy. New York: HarperCollins,

Redding, Paul, "Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel," the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2006 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.)

URL=
http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2006/entries/hegel/.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Hegel, Heidegger, and Nietzsche on Philosophy
Words: 4868 Length: 15 Document Type: Essay

Progress of History: Hegel, Nietzsche and Heidegger For Hegel, the idea of the progress of history was tied to his immersion in the world of Enlightenment and Romantic writers and thinkers. He lived at a time when the French Revolution occurred and reshaped the direction of history. The Revolution expressed and institutionalized new ideas about Reason (literally deified by the Revolution) as well as socio-political philosophy regarding fraternity, equality and liberty.

Gw Hegel's Philosophy of History.
Words: 2606 Length: 9 Document Type: Term Paper

His career at school and university was undistinguished - his certificate mentioned his "inadequate grasp of philosophy." At Tubingen university he studied not philosophy but theology - and in a sense all his philosophy was essentially a theology, an exploration of the workings of the world-spirit which he identified with God." He spent time as a family tutor and worked in Frankfurt and Berne. His work as a tutor gave him

Feminist Interpretation of Aristotle and
Words: 3381 Length: 10 Document Type: Term Paper

Aristotle believed that human flourishing (NE: 12) is the definition of good. The mere presence of women in Congress suggests that voters rejected a man, but it is better to look at this not as the rejection of one (male or not), but as the result of human flourishing. This increased competition of more women pursuing what they feel is their own responsibility will result in more unemployment for men,

Education Is the Creation of the Whole
Words: 336 Length: 1 Document Type: Term Paper

Education is the creation of the whole person through a synthesis of ideas. My evolving definition of education includes a rigorous investigation of classical liberal arts paradigms from Aristotle to Freud and everything in between. Through a synoptic reading of diverse texts during my course of study, I will be able to offer suggestions on curriculum design and modification. However, my focus will be on Western and European perspectives and

Hegelian Dialectic Concerning Life, Death
Words: 2993 Length: 10 Document Type: Term Paper

His viewpoint is neither traditionally Christian and therefore subject to Church doctrine, nor strictly pagan and therefore subject to strict rationality. Hegel's working out of the thesis and antithesis of life and death, and the synthesis, which is love, is a kind of mystical interpretation of the Christian mysteries. What Hegel could not understand in light of objectivity destroyed, he attempts to explain in light of Love as the

Philospphy Phaedo Is Centered on
Words: 807 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

The main idea that one can understand from this story is that happiness can be concluded referring to an individual only when his life has been completed. This is because at that point, one will have the necessary facts to be able to arrive to such a conclusion. This means that happiness is a final objective in itself, a quest by individuals who try to be happy all the way

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now