1. Hegel’s philosophy of history was teleological, defined
by the way it realized the goal of freedom. Compare to Aristotle’s notion of
teleology, e.g., that the ‘end’ of the state was eudaimonia. Compare to our use
of ‘development’. compare with our notion that democracies are more advanced
than, e.g., the ‘dictatorships’ of the MidEast.
2. A dialectical process involves thesis, antithesis, and
then synthesis. How would you apply Hegel’s concept to the French Revolution?
3. If the goal of
history is freedom, how can Hegel make the emergence of the powerful modern
state its realization? What would Locke say? In the late 20th
Century, Hegel’s theories were often considered ‘dangerous’. In what way might
that label fit?
4. Hegel’s theory of history is often considered as
‘idealist’ compared with the ‘materialism’ of people like Smith (and later,
Marx). Is this anything like the difference between Plato’s commitment to
Ideas, and Aristotle’s emphasis on practical wisdom?
5. Compare Hegel’s notion of the ‘world-historical man’ with
Machiavelli’s Prince.
6. What is the significance for his epistemology of Hegel’s
famous saying, “The owl of Minerva spreads its wings only with the falling of
the dusk” ? (Roughly translated as ‘you can only tell what happened after it
happens’.)
Application 1: Measurements
of the health of the US economy is often measured by the rate of increase of
the Gross Domestic Product. What does that say about the ideal towards which
our history is oriented?
Application 2: The
election of Trump has often been seen as the ‘spirit’ of a particular,
important set of people. How would you describe that using Hegel’s terms and
analysis?
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