Progressing Toward the End of Spirit: Hegel on World History

Extract

[...] The particular spirit of a particular nation may perish; but it is a link in the chain of the world spirit's development, and this universal spirit cannot perish.[6] The breakdown of states and nations, according to Hegel, often happens when an individual ignores the ends of the nation, and instead focuses solely on his or her individual desires and passions. When the individual becomes solely subjective and does not cooperate with the national spirit, this causes dissent and a possible breakdown of the state. [...]

[...] is active within (spirit); and whatever he does, the spirit is also active within Hegel explains. . (Spirit) assumes the shape of a human individual . However, he goes on to explain that the lives of individuals are inconsequential when talking about world history. This is not to say that Hegel dismisses individual freedom as being irrelevant, rather that it is difficult to see spirit at work in the individual since all individuals are finite and mortal. It is easier to see spirit at work in the nation. [...]

[...] On the other hand, Hegel also argues that breakdown of the nation can occur when the nation does not allow its citizens to be free. The Greeks, Hegel argues, were the first to have some concept of freedom, but this concept was not entirely developed and it lead to the downfall of the Greek city-state. The consciousness of freedom first awoke among the Greeks, and they were accordingly free; but, like the Romans, they only knew that Some, and not all men as such, are free.[7] Although Hegel does not believe that reason is the only determinant for individuals, he does believe in the general work of spirit, and he is confident that we are heading in the right direction. [...]