Napoleon's Role in History (Hegel vs Schopenhauer)

One of the more interesting curiosities of history, is that two great German philosophers, Schopenhauer and Hegel, both caught a glimpse of Napoleon Bonaparte.

How each of them thought about Napoleon, his role in history and his significance for mankind, provides a nice exploration of their respective philosophies.

Hegel’s encounter with the Emperor is perhaps the most famous one.

On the day before the Battle of Jena in October 1806, Napoleon entered the German city to inspect it for reconnaissance purposes. While touring the streets of Jena, mounted on a horse, he was spotted by Hegel. He later wrote to a friend:

“I saw the Emperor—this world-soul [Weltseele]—riding out of the city on reconnaissance. It is indeed a wonderful sensation to see such an individual, who, concentrated here at a single point, astride a horse, reaches out over the world and masters it.” Letter to Friedrich Immanuel Niethammer

Napoleon, for Hegel, was a world-historic figure who played a crucial, but necessary, part in moving history toward its goal. Napoleon was the vehicle by which the French Revolution was completing itself outside of France, as part of a larger project wherein the Geist, or Spirit, gradually comes to know itself through time.

Aside from the fact that Schopenhauer doesn’t believe in a progression of history like Hegel does, the suffering caused by such conquerors as Napoleon or Alexander the Great, is simply too large for there ever to be a net positive for mankind.

For Hegel, Napoleon as a world-historic figure is fulfilling a destiny, he is the vessel with which history and the Geist unfold itself. For Schopenhauer, Napoleon is just one more bloodthirsty conqueror in a long line of bloodthirsty conquerors, without a special purpose and without the possibility for redemption.

What is unique in the character of Napoleon, is his extraordinary intelligence, courage, and above all will to subject the world to his power. This combination of traits makes Napoleon unique, but not special.

In Napoleon we find a rare individual who can completely indulge in the destruction craved by the will to life. The will, of which Napoleon is but one objectification, seeks to continually assert itself at the cost of other instantiations of the will. In other words, through Napoleon the will has found a perfect vehicle to perpetuate itself. But all of this suffering only takes place in the world of representation – on the fundamental level, in the world as will, the person who inflicts suffering is the same as the person who undergoes the suffering.

What is important to remember as far as Napoleon is concerned, is that for Schopenhauer, Napoleon is a unique individual but not a special individual. He is unique in so far as he was a gifted military commander, born in the right place at the right time, with the right set of talents to succeed in such an environment. He is not special, however. He is not special because fundamentally, Napoleon is just as egoistic and ambitious as the rest of mankind.

[WeltgeistYT]

Something a little bit different. Hope you enjoy! Please leave a like and a comment if you found this video valuable. It helps out the channel a great deal.

[zeigbert]

I like Tolstoy's take in War & Peace. That the course of history is the integral of countless infinitesimal thoughts and actions of regular people and occasionally great men come along to take credit or blame for how things turned out.

[bethtrautmann]

Although Schopenhauer has always been referred to in negative terms such as a misogynist and pessimist, this video shows Schopenhauer's concern for human suffering at the individual level and his compassion for others. That was sadly lacking in Hegel who looked at human beings as mere things in the "Great Chain of History". This was such an interesting and intelligent video.

[a.wenger]

It's amazing how much Napoleon still divides opinion not only in history and politics, but also philsophy.

[Sprite_]

I love this approach of analyzing philosophers by comparing their handling of similar events. Refreshing as always. Thanks!

[pv]

arguably the last man on earth to make wearing a cape work

[samcopeland]

Great video! I think one important piece of context to add is Hegel and Schopenhauer's political attitudes. Hegel was basically a statist liberal, in favor of equality, etc., whereas Schopenhauer was conservative, even reactionary in his elitism. Napoleon went around smashing the aristocracies of Europe and replacing them with bourgeois administrative states. How Hegel and Schopenhauer viewed such a figure was naturally colored by their political attitudes, which of course have metaphysical roots for both thinkers.

[cimmeriabastardsword]

History and philosophy my two favorites subjects in one video! Great video!

[mingmiao]

Congratulations on the tremendous growth of your channel. I took a break from YouTube in the last few months and look at the number of your subscribers now! I’m glad your work is appreciated by so many viewers. It’s an interesting parallel that all but the first of your Schopenhauer videos are further elaboration of your first one, very similar to Schopenhauer’s own philosophy career in which all his later works are meant to enrich what is said in the The World as Will and Representation.

[frankchilds]

Thanks as always for what you give us! I agree Schopenhauer on this one. The will to live is our hell and heaven at the exact same time. In our current times, we would do well to step back and tone down our desires...the world could depend on it!

[zaquar]

Love your videos dude, very informative and well structured!

[euggiemonad]

I've noticed that many of your videos have some work by Caravaggio, who I love, and who obviously exemplified suffering through the will to live.

[nonserviam]

Schopenhauer (feat. Hegel) . . . something funny about that.
Anyway, exceptional and stimulating content as always.

[deanodog]

Napoleon bonaparte, the renaissance on horseback!

[coachcastle]

Thank you for the videos, i love your reading please keep it up

[jerryj.]

Powerful comparison on a powerful historic figure.

[benjaminbao]

After watch this, Napoleon will say what I have done was pushed by the system, actually I had no other options except killing, only Hegel understood me.

[PJAlaska]

I had heard a couple lectures about him, which were intriguing . Albeit a very negative interpretation. But, after having read his Essays, I look at him in a completely different light. Like many others have said, I felt like Schopenhauer was writing to me or about me. It was dark, yes. But everything was on point. By my own experience I related with much of what he said. Now, I need to learn his metaphysics. But his “Essays “ were awesome!

[awesomelovable]

Napoleon accepts the will to live so that he can achieve the will to power.

[PoptartParasol]

I once again align more closely with Schopenhauer on this point, and I'm french. Not that that matters really as Napoleon was originally italian anyways