thesis+antithesis=synthesis

Lately I've been finding myself in conversations about Hegelian dialectic, which basically explains why I'm posting the stuff below here.

The best place to start in understanding the axiom: “thesis+antithesis=synthesis” is to establish dialectics as a method for resolving disagreements by using a dialogue between two or more people holding different points of view about a subject, who wish to establish the truth of the matte, with reasoned arguments.

Hegel explains his dialectical method in a threefold manner as comprising three stages: a thesis, giving rise to its reaction, an antithesis, which contradicts or negates the thesis, and the tension between the two being resolved by means of a synthesis.

The very essence of Hegel’s method is based on trying to create a conceptual framework in terms of which both the past and future could be philosophically understood.




His intent is to find an encompassing of explanation of history as he believes that the task of philosophy is to chart the development what he refers to as the Absolute Spirit which he defines by stating: "what is rational is real and what is real is rational."

Charting the development of the Absolute Spirit involves “1) making clear the internal rational structure of the Absolute; 2) demonstrating the manner in which the Absolute manifests itself in nature and human history; and 3) showing the end or purpose toward which the Absolute is directed.”

Dialectic is always at work in every political issue that encourages taking sides. in democrats against republicans, in communists against capitalists, in liberals against conservatives, in pro-choice versus pro-life, in Protestants against Roman Catholics. No matter what the issue is, we will often find reasoned arguments to control both the conflict (thesis vs. antithesis) and the resolution of differences, and leads everyone involved into a new cycle of conflicts (synthesis).

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hegelian Dialectics came as early as Socrates. The Dialectics is actually the Socratic Method.