Hegel and the Rebellion and Counter-Rebellion of Youth

Authors

Rudolf J. Siebert, Western Michigan University

Abstract

Can the philosopher and educator Hegel help American youth overcome romantic subjectivity and liberate itself toward a rational and free existence? Can he help them in the dramatic social development from civil society to the real non-repressive supra-national or even continental state? To lead Hegel and American youth into a new and honest encounter would be very worthwhile and necessary, but difficult. This new encounter would presuppose the success of an even more difficult task. This would be to let American youth take root in that healthy confidence, which Hegel characterized as threefold: 1) confidence is science, 2) faith in reason, 3) confidence and faith in one's self. Only such rational, reason-related and society-related self confidence can provide a powerful impulse and motive-to give Hegel the word a last time-to that intellectual "rejuvenation, which shows its next effect and expression in the political reality." Such intellectual rejuvenation may lead to a social and political movement of youth, which is able to go beyond the rebellious and revolutionary Left and the counter-rebellious and counter-revolutionary Right in terms of a progressive social evolution toward a rational society and state powerful enough to be able to afford freedom, not only for one or a few, but for all in practice as well as in theory. Such intellectual rejuvenation may very well begin and be promoted in the dimension of general education in our positive universities.

Recommended Citation

Siebert, Rudolf J. (1971) "Hegel and the Rebellion and Counter-Rebellion of Youth," Perspectives (1969-1979): Vol. 3: No. 2, Article 4.
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/perspectives/vol3/iss2/4