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Reading G.W.F Hegel’s Introduction to the Philosophy of History. Though he didn’t actually write a book with this name, notes on his lectures on this topic were published after his death, and the first chunk of that serves as a good entrance point to Hegel’s very strange system.
How should a philosopher approach the study of history? Is history just a bunch of random happenings, or is it a purposive force manipulating us to fulfill its hidden ends? If you have asked yourself this question in this way, then you, like Hegel, are mighty strange.
Here we talk about the unfolding of the world-historical spirit, world-historical individuals (hint: not you), dialectic, his alternative to the social contract, the formation of the self based on what others label you, the geist of America, why a constitutional monarchy is obviously the best form of government, and heaps more.
Read with us: Pages 14-128 of http://socserv.mcmaster.ca/econ/ugcm/3ll3/hegel/history.pdf or, for a somewhat less intimidating experience (and to read the same translation I have), just pick up a paperback of just the part we’re concerned with: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0872200566/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used.
End Song: “Cold,” by Madison Lint (2004), described in my music blog.
#1 by Eric on July 25th, 2010
Wes, the GDP per capita in China is certainly NOT equal to the GDP per capita in the USA
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=gdp+per+capita+usa++gdp+per+capita+china
China 2010 GDP per capita:$3290
USA 2010 GDP per capita:$45200
#2 by Wes Alwan on July 26th, 2010
I said that? Wow.
#3 by matth on August 27th, 2010
yeah that gdp thing threw me, i just figured you meant they surpassed us in some other economic way recently or it was just predicted they would by a certain date, but i think its many decades away
anyways i must say i really love your guys’ podcast but this was the first one that put me to sleep, i was taking a long walk and had to sit down and i went out for about 10 minutes somewhere in the middle.. not really a criticism of you guys so much as hegel just not interesting me i guess
#4 by Wes Alwan on August 28th, 2010
Thanks Matth — I meant to say that China is predicted to soon have the largest GDP. Mark edited in “per capita” to embarrass me.
#5 by Mark Linsenmayer on August 28th, 2010
I’m confident that if this episode made people fall asleep, it must have been Wes or Seth that did the editing on it, though I don’t actually remember at this point.
#6 by Seth Paskin on August 28th, 2010
Bound to happen with this format, the topics and my voice. I’ll take responsibility. That having been said, if it’s just one EP out of every 10 or so, I’d say we’re doing an OK job.
Compare to how you fare(d) in classes at school.