Saturday, October 18, 2003

HEGEL ON FREEDOM

I'm reading Hegel's 'Reason in History' for a paper I'm working on and I came across a short passage that seems always relevant. Particularly with so much discussion, from all quarters, about the nature of freedom, especially in Iraq, I thought these thoughts from Hegel on the subject were worth noting.

"But the term 'freedom' without further qualification, is indefinite and infinitely ambiguous. Being the highest concept, it is liable to an infinity of misunderstandings, confusions, and errors and may give rise to all possible kinds of extravagances."

A good reminder to be wary of those who discuss freedom in terms so abstract it no longer has any meaning.

Posted by Matthew @ 4:35 p.m.