Hegel: The First Cultural Psychologist 2007 from Vimeo Andy Blunden; Video In many places in Egypt, the sacred grave of Osiris was exhibited. Individuals must arrive at subjective freedom, and in doing so, give an objective form to these diversities. It is said there, “As man was created pure and worthy of Heaven, he becomes pure again through the law of the servants of Ormuzd, which is purity itself; if he purifies himself by sanctity of thought, word, and deed. We have here the African element, in combination with Oriental massiveness, transplanted to the Mediterranean Sea, that grand locale of the display of nationalities; but in such a manner, that here there is no connection with foreign nations – this mode of stimulating intellect appearing superfluous; for we have here a prodigious urgent striving within the nationality itself, and which within its own circle shoots out into an objective realization of itself in the most monstrous productions. Every subject, he says, has its particular organs, for its peculiar mode of action: so the smith, the carpenter, each for his own craft. If we compare these kingdoms in the light of their various fates, we find the empire of the two Chinese rivers the only durable kingdom in the World. These Lamas lead a thoroughly isolated life and have a feminine rather than masculine training. The Spirit of the Phase just indicated, is involved in the same fundamental principle as that assigned to Hindoo conceptions: but it is more concentrated in itself; its religion is simpler, and the accompanying political condition more calm and settled. In this monumental way we are made acquainted with the private life of the Egyptians, as with that of the Romans through the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. We may say, on the contrary, that the Egyptians are vigorous boys, eager for self-comprehension, who require nothing but clear understanding of themselves in an ideal form, in order to become Young Men. This is the character of the Chinese people in its various aspects. Chapter II. The magnitude of the Persian dominion occasioned the government of the provinces by viceroys – Satraps; and these often acted very arbitrarily to the provinces subjected to their rule, and displayed hatred and envy towards each other; a source of much evil. The fact that everyone has a share in that principle, secures to him personal dignity. Towards the west of India flows the Indus, in which the five rivers are united, which are called the Pentjâb (Punjab), into which Alexander the Great penetrated. God, the Divine [tw qeion] is the absolutely Universal. These form a connected Trinity. We have the first example of a subjugation of the mere arbitrary will, which is merged in this substantiality. In the first place we must here banish from our minds the prejudice in favor of duration, as if it had any advantage as compared with transience: the imperishable mountains are not superior to the quickly dismantled rose exhaling its life in fragrance. Contempt of life, and of living humanity, is the chief feature in this ascesis. Here again pain is regarded as something divine, and the same honor is assigned to it here as among the Phoenicians. In Rome, at a later date, it became very prevalent as a secret worship; and we find traces of it even far into the middle ages. In Persia, the government, though joining all in a central unity, is but a combination of peoples – leaving each of them free. On the walls, which were 100 feet high, were fifteen hundred towers, within which a vast mass of people resided. Yet even Arrian (Ind. Hegel-by-HyperText Home Page @ marxists.org. The Persians – a free mountain and nomad people – though ruling over richer, more civilized and fertile lands – retained on the whole the fundamental characteristics of their ancient mode of life. The wearers of the yellow caps – at whose head is the Dalai-Lama, and among whose adherents is the Emperor of China – have introduced celibacy among the priests, while the red sect allow their marriage. In Germany. It is true that subjective feeling is manifest – the pure heart, repentance, devotion; but the particular concrete individuality has not become objective to itself in the Absolute. The greatest publicity prevails in the business of government. – In this religion – which may be generally described as the religion of self-involvement (undeveloped Unity)[13] – the elevation of that unspiritual condition to subjectivity, takes place in two ways; one of which is of a negative, the other of an affirmative kind. This relation, then, expressed more definitely and more conformably with its conception, is that of the Family. They have five Elements of Nature – Air, Water, Earth, Metal, and Wood. And this point is important, because the generic conception that has to be formed of Deity is Spirit; which involves its being concrete, and having in it the element of negativity. The Sun is the symbol, in which Osiris and the history of that god are recognized, and the Nile is likewise such a symbol. With a clear understanding of the present, is connected the highest degree of impulsiveness, daring and turbulence. The writing is on palm leaves, scratched in with a needle. According to the calculation of an English writer, the Egyptian history (e.g.) Besides these three books of archives which are specially honored and studied, there are besides two others, less important, viz. In the principal work of Confucius, which has been translated into English, are found correct moral apophthegms; but there is a circumlocution, a reflex character, and circuitousness in the thought, which prevents it from rising above mediocrity. a. From a very humble station he had raised himself to royalty by ability, astuteness, and intelligence, and he exhibited in all other relations the same keen understanding. A Mandarin, who was with him, buried him, and then killed himself on his grave. If we examine this fact of transition more closely, the question suggests itself – for example, in this first case of the kind, viz. The capital Ecbatana was built by Dejoces, not earlier. The priests, also, in performing their functions, are masked as falcons, jackals, bulls, etc. Foreseeing his death, he had the coffin brought in with him, in which he was to be buried. Since we set to work systematically this division must present itself as necessary. For the History of Philosophy, both Hegel and his students thought these were vitally important lectures, and he lectured in Jena, Heidelberg, and Berlin several times on it. As regards Assyria, we must observe, that it is a rather indeterminate designation. In China, in the worship of ancestors, these latter enjoy divine honor. They comprise many divisions, of which the fourth is of more recent origin. The view given of the relation of castes leads directly to the subject of Religion. Lastly, the Shi-King is the book of the oldest poems in a great variety of styles. copper) gates, its walls being a hundred feet high, and thick in proportion, defended by two hundred and fifty towers. That which comes from Ormuzd is living, independent, and lasting. These two are strictly connected – the position of the Sun and that of the Nile; and to the Egyptian this is all in all. The works of Lao-tse, and especially his work “Tao-te-King,” are celebrated. The idea of the Sun perhaps originated that of Hercules as engaged in his twelve labors; but this basis does not give us the chief feature of the myth, which is, that Hercules is that scion of the gods who, by his virtue and exertion, made himself a god by human spirit and valor; and who, instead of passing his life in idleness, spends it in hardship and toil. A black tom-cat, with its glowing eyes and its now gliding, now quick and darting movement, has been deemed the presence of a malignant being – a mysterious reserved spectre: the dog, the canary-bird, on the contrary, appear friendly and sympathizing. Their existence is coeval with the origin of things; they are in all places, in highroads, towns, etc., and are prepared to give help to supplicants. It is related, that once when a Roman in Alexandria killed a cat, an insurrection ensued, in which the Egyptians murdered the aggressor. Infanticide is also very common in India. An important feature in the history of Egypt is its descent from Upper to Lower Egypt – from the South to the North. The intelligence displayed in their legislative economy, appears characteristic of the Egyptians. From all this it is clear that the Emperor is the centre, around which everything turns; consequently the well-being of the country and people depends on him. As chief towns of this Empire are mentioned, Atur or Assur on the Tigris, and of later origin Nineveh, said to have been founded and built by Ninus, the Founder of the Assyrian Empire. Such a beauty we find also in its loveliest form in the Indian World; a beauty of enervation in which all that is rough, rigid, and contradictory is dissolved, and we have only the soul in a state of emotion – a soul, however, in which the death of free self-reliant Spirit is perceptible. In China the Monarch is Chief as Patriarch. The third order of occupation recognized is that which is concerned with the specialities of life – the satisfying of its necessities – and comprehends agriculture, crafts and trade; the class of the Vaisyas. China Proper is over- populated. Light, in a physical and spiritual sense, imports, therefore, elevation – freedom from the merely natural. The consciousness of external definite existence only arises in connection with the power to form abstract distinctions and assign abstract predicates; and in proportion as a capacity for expressing Laws (of natural or social life) is acquired, in the same proportion does the ability manifest itself to comprehend objects in an unpoetical form. This freedom of separation is wanting in China. The direction which this state of things gives to private revenge is singular. This empire early attracted the attention of Europeans, although only vague stories about it had reached them. Of the mode of life among the Egyptians, Herodotus supplies a very detailed account, giving prominence to everything which appears to him to deviate from Greek manners. With the exception of the Thebaid – its most southern part – Egypt was said by them to have formed a lake; the Delta presents reliable evidence of having been produced by the silt of the Nile. Every one that fell into the Emperor’s hands experienced the same fate as the books. But these rolls contain only various representations of the pursuits of life – together with writings in the Demotic character. He himself wrote much, but became far more remarkable by publishing the principal works that China has produced. But the several occupations did not remain so stereotyped as among the Hindoos; for we find the Israelites, who were originally herdsmen, employed also as manual laborers: and there was a king – as stated above – who formed an army of manual laborers alone. – There is in China no distinction in the penal code between higher and lower classes. In the instance of the revolution that occurred in the middle of the seventeenth century, the last Emperor of the dynasty was very amiable and honorable; but through the mildness of his character, the reins of government were relaxed, and disturbances naturally ensued. These books are the groundwork of the history, the manners and the laws of China. All that we call subjectivity is concentrated in the supreme head of the State, who, in all his legislation has an eye to the health, wealth, and benefit of the whole. A chain binds down the life that was just upon the point of breaking forth. Many therefore call the Supreme Existence who is over the first mentioned deity, Para-brahma. Osiris – with Isis behind him – appears, holding a balance, while before him stands the soul of the deceased. Mandarins in Civil Offices, and the same number of military Mandarins. Thus, as Persia did not constitute, politically, one Spirit, it appeared weak in contrast with Greece. Suicide, the result of revenge, and the exposure of children, as a common, even daily occurrence, show the little respect in which they hold themselves individually, and humanity in general. We must next consider the relative position of these castes. If, in conclusion, we combine what has been said here of the peculiarities of the Egyptian Spirit in all its aspects, its pervading principle is found to be, that the two elements of reality – Spirit sunk in Nature, and the impulse to liberate it – are here held together inharmoniously as contending elements. China and India, as already mentioned, have remained – Persia has not. The final, 1830 version of the Hegel’s Logic , known as “The Shorter Logic,” is the most accessible and until recently, the most widely known of Hegel’s mature works, the work which has been most influential among Marxists. The Puranas contain the history of a god or of a temple. The History of Philosophy as an accumulation of Opinions b. The Indian view of things is a Universal Pantheism, a Pantheism, however, of Imagination, not of Thought. A second is the Teshoo-Lama, who under the title of Bantshen Rinbot-shee resides at Teshoo-Lomboo; there is also a third in Southern Siberia. This almost unearthly beauty is perceived in women in those days which immediately succeed child-birth; when freedom from the burden of pregnancy and the pains of travail is added to the joy of soul that welcomes the gift of a beloved infant. – The merits of a son are ascribed not to him, but to his father. The other castes may likewise become partakers in a Regeneration; but they must subject themselves to immense self-denial, torture and penance. Freedom both as abstract will and as subjective freedom is absent. This Universal principle is as much a regulative one for the monarch as for each of his subjects, and the Persian Spirit is accordingly clear, illuminated – the idea of a people living in pure morality, as in a sacred community. In those countries, tyranny rouses men to resentment; they detest it and groan under it as a burden. The way by which these treasures have passed to the West, has at all times been a matter of World- historical importance, bound up with the fate of nations. Hegel’s Logic: Part One of the Encyclopaedia of the Philosophical Sciences (1830) by G.W.F. In the organization of these several peoples, the various principles and forms of life have full play and continue to exist together. If an analysis of these various forms were attempted, they would lose their quality; for in themselves all things are one and the same inseparable essence, and this essence is Nothingness. Since the country of the Mahrattas was conquered by the English, no part of India has asserted its independence of their sway. It is the struggle of an energetic will on the part of this or that prince against a feebler one; the history of reigning dynasties, but not of peoples; a series of perpetually varying intrigues and revolts – not indeed of subjects against their rulers, but of a prince’s son, for instance, against his father; of brothers, uncles and nephews in contest with each other; and of functionaries against their master. The traditions of the Arabs are very old, but are not attached to a political constitution and its development. It is evident how hollow such general aphorisms are, when we consider the concrete forms which they may assume. 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