Question

My professor said Hegel believes that the progress of rationality roots in contradiction. One of the examples is Kant's Antinomy, where Hegel suggests that we can understand two opposing propositions leading to a third one through Aufheben, similar to aufheben morality. By doing so, you will arrive at the concept of family.

In what way does Aufheben transform them into a new proposition? When something is sublated for Hegel, its previous definitive contradictions are preserved within its new form as sublated. This preservation of what has been overturned or overcome is what enables a thing to be elevated to a higher level of development. It's not that the moral individual loses all of her previous development of her individuality when she finds a partner and forms a new family, but rather she is seeking her individuality and freedom in another person and in another institution.

So, the individuality that had been developed in the family she grew up in has been elevated and transformed by leaving that family and creating a new one.

Answer 1

Hegel's Aufheben refers to the transformation and preservation of contradictions into a higher synthesis, exemplified by how an individual's growth in their family of origin is elevated through the creation of their own family.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hegel's concept of Aufheben, central to his dialectical philosophy, finds application in the realm of morality and family dynamics. In the context of an individual leaving their original family to establish a new one, the dialectical process is evident. Rather than viewing this transition as a simple negation or abandonment of the past, Aufheben suggests that contradictions are transformed into a higher synthesis.

As an individual moves from their family of origin to create a new familial unit, their individuality undergoes sublation. This means that the person's experiences, values, and personal growth within the original family are not erased; instead, they are elevated and transformed through the establishment of a new family. The contradictions inherent in leaving one's family are not discarded but integrated into the evolving narrative of the individual's life.

The synthesis formed in the creation of a new family involves a complex interplay between familial bonds and individual morals. The lessons and contradictions from the past family are drawn upon to shape a higher understanding of individuality and connection within the new family structure. The Aufheben process allows for the preservation and transcendence of the contradictions inherent in familial relationships, fostering a richer and more nuanced understanding of the self and one's role within the family unit.