Рет қаралды 39,902
Presentation: To reveal the meaning of our lives, the philosopher must show that the absurdity of history is only an appearance, that there is a hidden logic at the heart of historical events, and, consequently, that passions are the engine of progress.
More about the author: m-editer.izibookstore.com/aute...
To go further: New essays for a theory of passions, Jean-Marie FREY, M-Editer, 2014 m-editer.izibookstore.com/prod...
Text: When we consider this spectacle of passions and the consequences of their unleashing, when we see folly associated not only with passions, but also with good intentions and legitimate ends, when history confronts us with evil, inequity, the ruin of the most flourishing empires that human genius has produced, when we hear with pity the nameless laments of individuals, we can only be filled with sadness at the thought of caducity in general. And since these ruins are not only the work of nature, but also of human will, the spectacle of history risks in the end causing moral affliction and a revolt of the spirit of good, if such a spirit exists in us. This assessment can be transformed into a most terrifying picture, without any exaggeration, just by accurately recounting the misfortunes inflicted on virtue, innocence, peoples and states and their most beautiful samples. It comes to a deep, unconsolable pain that nothing can alleviate. To make it bearable or to tear us away from its hold, we say to ourselves: It has been so; it is fate; nothing can be changed; and fleeing the sadness of this painful reflection, we withdraw into our present affairs, goals and interests, in short into the selfishness that, on the quiet shore, safely enjoys the distant spectacle of the confused mass of ruins. [...]
The negative side of this spectacle of change causes our sadness. It is depressing to know that so much splendour, so much beautiful vitality must have perished and that we are walking among the ruins. The noblest and most beautiful thing was torn away from us by history: human passions have ruined it. Everything seems destined to disappear, nothing remains. (...) After these disturbing considerations, one wonders what the end of all these individual realities is. They do not exhaust themselves in their particular goals. Everything must contribute to a work. At the base of this immense sacrifice of the Spirit must be found an ultimate end. The question is whether, under the turmoil on the surface, there is not a silent and secret work being done in which the full force of the phenomena will be preserved. What bothers us is the great variety and contrast of this content. We see opposing things being revered as sacred and claiming to represent the interests of the times and peoples. Thus is born the need to find in the Idea the justification for such a decline. This consideration leads us to the third category, in search of an end in itself and for oneself. This is the category of Reason itself, it exists in consciousness as faith in the omnipotence of Reason over the world. Proof will be provided by the study of history itself. For this is only the image and act of Reason.
Hegel (Georg Wilhelm F.) The Reason in History.