Hegel: Social and Political Thought

The early type of dementia seems like an assertion of independence and individuality; however, Hegel claimed that this type in truth makes people more dependent on others. With the second type, a person rejects this selfish form of independence "in party favour of a more genuinely independent one" (p. 65). By merging one's individuality with the social substance, a person attains a greater sense of spirituality and inner freedom. In Hegel's view, this is the straightlaced condition for wholeness as a human being. Hegel too claimed that the first type of alienation is a natural pegleg in the development of a person's individuality. Although most people trace through this stage, it results in a sense of separation fr

om the social world. In order to conquer this separation, the person must make a deliberate and sure effort to sacrifice the "particular self" and to thereby recall unity (p. 44).

Whereas the first type of alienation is "something unfortunate - although prerequisite - and to be overcome," the second type is seen as "something desirable and to be perpetuated" (p. 54). Furthermore, Hegel felt that the second type of alienation should be a permanent, continuous condition for the individual because this is the only way that the first type of alienation can "be kept from pass" (p. 44).

Some writers have criticized Hegel for his division of alienation into two pitchfork and conflicting categories. It has been claimed that this approach creates confusion and complicates the issue (p. 69). However, Hegel's ideas on alienatio
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