tailieunhanh - The Oxford Companion to Philosophy Part 40

The Oxford Companion to Philosophy Part 40. The book is alphabetized by the whole headings of entries, as distinct from the first word of a heading. Hence, for example, abandonment comes before a priori and a posteriori. It is wise to look elsewhere if something seems to be missing. At the end of the book there is also a useful appendix on Logical Symbols as well as the appendices A Chronological Table of Philosophy and Maps of Philosophy. | 370 Hegelianism thinking about past events we change ourselves so that our situation and the problems it presents are now importantly different from those of the past. It is not the philosopher s or the historian s business to predict or plan for the future in part because significant future events will involve new thoughts or categories which are not yet available to him. But Hegel s reluctance to discuss the future together with his insistence on the universality and completeness of his own system left it unclear whether there is any possibility of significant future developments in philosophy or in history. Is his own system infinite in the sense that reflection on it unlike past philosophies generates no categories not already contained in it If so he seems to exclude the possibility of further interesting philosophical or historical developments. If it is not so he still gives his followers no firm guidance on what do in the changed historical circumstances following his death. 5. As a philosopher Hegel inclined to aloof objectivity to detached observation of the conflicts ofthe past and the fates of the opposing but interdependent parties factions states religions philosophies and so on. He also believed however that such conflicts and the spiritual advances which they generated would not have been possible if men had not passionately and resolutely championed a one-sided cause if they had for the most part abstained from a decision in stoical or ironical detachment or dithered in the middle ground. Conflict as well as reflection is required if humanity is to remain alive and awake. Thus as a philosopher he favoured impassioned engagement on the part of the citizen in the conflicts of his age. But as a philosopher he can give no clear guidance to the Hegelian citizen as to which side he should choose. Hence Hegel s followers gave different answers to the above questions answers which characteristically reflected their own prior beliefs religious and political