Half Hour Hegel: The Complete Phenomenology of Spirit (Lordship and Bondage, sec. 196)

In this seventy-ninth video in the new series on G.W.F. Hegel's great early work, the Phenomenology of Spirit, we finish our study of the second portion of the section "Self-Consciousness", i.e. "Lordship and Bondage", or the "Master-Slave Dialectic". I read and comment on paragraph 196 of the text here.

Hegel now brings this section, and the dialectical development discussed within it, to an end. The self-transformation of the servile consciousness has occurred through the Fear which the Slave has undergone, fear in relation to the Master and to Death - but also through the formative activity engaged with the non-human objects of the world of Work, the objects upon which the Slave has labored in his Service to the Master.

These moments make possible the Slave's realization of himself as an independent being in his own right, since he can now see himself externalized in the very labor and the work he contributes. Hegel also discusses ways in which this development can fail to take place, in which one of the moments is missing.

In this video series, I will be working through the entire Phenomenology, paragraph by paragraph -- for each one, first reading the paragraph, and then commenting on what Hegel is doing, referencing, discussing, etc. in that paragraph.

This series is designed to provide an innovative digital resource that will assist students, lifelong learners, professionals, and even other philosophers in studying this classic work by Hegel for generations to come.

My videos are used by students, lifelong learners, other professors, and professionals to learn more about topics, texts, and thinkers in philosophy, religious studies, literature, social-political theory, critical thinking, and communications. These include college and university classes, British A-levels preparation, and Indian civil service (IAS) examination preparation

(Amazon links are associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

#Hegel #Phenomenology #Philosophy #Idealism #German #Dialectic #Spirit #Absolute #Knowledge #History

[Mohammaditabar]

Dr. Sadler,

I do not know how to thank you enough or whether it is possible to thank you enough for these videos. To this point, I have watched everything and, at the same time, read the book itself. The outcome was that I feel I have a better understanding of the world around me, and it is influencing me in many positive ways. You have no idea what a great thing you have done for humanity. I will forever be thankful to you.

[RileyEffective]

Thank you very much for making these videos. It has helped a lot with understanding the master-slave dialectics.

[liveeloveelax]

I really appreciate all the work you've done. Your videos have REALLY helped me understand existential concepts, especially in regards to Hegel. I also appreciate your sense of humour. You rock, thanks so much.

[Retrogamer]

Well it is hard to believe the work of Hegel in the Phenomenology is down to one person, this is clearly to my mind the work of supreme genius. Personally as someone not living a purely academic life but dealing with the phenomenon of ordinary persons daily, Hegel's account describes in a new and masterful light a raft of distinguishable truth about human reality. This has been a most liberating experience following the work of Dr. Sadler and his insightful mediations are indispensable to the truth seeker and student of philosophy. So far there have occurred in this journey several times moments of sheer revelation. I recommend newcomers take this journey as part of their studies from the very beginning of Dr. Sadler's videos, [donate to patreon if you can], and follow up reading the A.V.Miller translation.

[CoranceLChandler]

Still going strong, this is turning out to be even better than I expected

[jamesdyer]

I watch these videos every day, they have been very enlightening. Back and forth, from your videos to the book, to his students, like day I'll understand Hegel

[jamesdyer]

Hegel's dialectic reasoning, over a long historical process, seems as though the "thing" would inevitably gain properties of consciousness and vice versa....makes me consider the modern dillema of Artificial Intelligence, in which the Thing begins to assimilate properties of the conscious mind, and in turn, consioiusness becomes more like the thing through social media, and big-data analysis, and, finally, the integration of hardware into the being

[ligottifan]

Point of clarification. So Master is the source of Fear. Slave internalizes the Fear. Does that mean that therefore the Slave internalizes the Master, that part of the Master's consciousness becomes part of the Slave's consciousness? That was the only question I had. Everything else was very, very clear. Thanks!

[arianjamasb]

One should exercise caution when conflating the servant to being a slave.

In the original German, Hegel uses the words 'Herrschaft und Knechtschaft' (Mastership and servitude), if he meant slave he would have used der Sklave (slave) rather than knecht (servant). The distinction is important as the slave is the master's property and gaining independence (a mind of one's own) involves two different processes; rebellion for the slave and, as Hegel demonstrates in this paragraph, through work/servitude for the servant.

[theinternet]

_And many more Destructions played_
_In this ghastly masquerade, _
_All disguised, even to the eyes, _
_Like Bishops, lawyers, peers, and spies._

_Last came Anarchy : he rode_
_On a white horse, splashed with blood ;_
_He was pale even to the lips, _
_Like Death in the Apocalypse._

_And he wore a kingly crown ;_
_And in his grasp a sceptre shone ;_
_On his brow this mark I saw—_
_‘I AM GOD, AND KING, AND LAW!’_

Percy Bysshe Shelley - _The Mask of Anarchy_

[hammadabdullah]

thank u so much sir, your this series of lecture is really amazing, I have a question though.. do you think Hegel is celebrating slavery and hence it is precisely at this point that Marx differs from him..