Social contract theory - Essay Example

The Role of the Individual According to Hegel, the nature of freedom and the philosophy of modern times proceeds from actual self consciousness of the individual. (Hegel, 1955:159). But he believed that the parameters of individual freedom would be confined within the framework of a referent “other” which in Hegel’s view was the State and limitations imposed by others. Hegel views the State as the embodiment of altruism that can bring justice to all individuals; hence the interests of the State must transcend those of the individual.

Hegel views the significance of the individual existing only in the context of others. Therefore in a political sense, the State is the representation of the means by which a group of individuals relate to each other out of the common will to live with other human beings in the community. Hegel views the State as the agent of true freedom for the individual.The basis of self consciousness in an individual, according to Hegel, lies not in his active thinking actions but in the active desires existing within the individual which are in negation.

Hegel views self consciousness as desire and he believes that self consciousness can exist only through sublation in a referent other. The certainty of self and individual existence may be obtained through the gratification of the individual’s desires, however these are conditioned by the other; certainty exists only through the cancellation of the other, therefore if a cancellation of the desire is to be effected, there must be the other. (Hegel, 1967).Therefore Hegel does not view the individual a splaying a significant role in politics, except as a part of an institution, i.

e, the State. The State is the form of inward self-expression of the people in an objective form. The validation of the individual would exist only in the form of recognition attained from others. For example, where individual ownership of property is concerned, such a property would belong to the person only to the extent that it is recognized by others, i.e, by the State. Being thus recognized by others symbolizes the individual’s struggle for recognition. The State in effect represents the subjective will of a collective group of people.

Applying Hegel’s views, an individual’s nature is governed by desire and his self consciousness expresses itself in the form of the gratification of desires. However, according to Hegel, such gratification of desires can occur only in the context of some referent other, i.e, individual recognition is dependent upon recognition by others. In the political arena, Hegel views the State as the ultimate altruistic embodiment of what is good for man, and therefore the highest expression of his self consciousness as a part of the collective other.

Hegel views the State as the agent of true freedom for the individual, with this freedom existing in the power to reason. Therefore, he does not view freedom as a natural state, rather it is to be found within the State where the only restriction the State places upon freedom is the limiting of the crudest of human drives and passion. The State is therefore the political agent that executes these laws which are to be beneficial to all individuals through the exercise of reason, to bring true freedom to all.

On this basis therefore, it may be concluded that Hegel views politics in terms of the institution of the State and the significance of the individual is restricted to his role within the State. References* Hegel, 1955. “Hegel’s lectures on the history of philosophy”, (Vol 3), NY: The Humanities Press* Hegel, 1967. “Philosophy of Right”, NY: Oxford University Press