Joseph Pallattil
The concept of alienation is one of the major concerns in human existence. We find the first systematic discussion regarding the concept of alienation in the philosophy of G.W.H Hegel. Hegel expounds an idealistic position on the concept of alienation and its overcoming. His concept of alienation mainly focuses on the spiritual and moral dimensions of human beings. In Hegel’s philosophy, alienation is part of the process of self-creativity and self-discovery. According to Hegel, initially our consciousness is alienated from itself. It cannot understand its own true nature. In order to realize its own true nature consciousness needs to develop absolute knowledge
The development of consciousness’s absolute knowledge is possible through the overcoming of self-alienation of consciousness. Here, concept of alienation plays an important role in bringing consciousness to the shape of itself called absolute knowing.
Hegel distinguishes between ‘alienation as estrangement’ and ‘alienation as externalization’. In Hegel’s philosophy, consciousness is estranged when it cannot recognise that it is a unity of both subjectivity and objectivity. The second sense of alienation, i.e. ‘alienation as externalization,’ describes the process by which consciousness externalizes itself in objective form. Through this self-objectification, consciousness develops a better understanding of itself.
In his discussion of the concept of alienation Hegel compares the dialectic of self-consciousness and consciousness which is not self-realised with the famous dialectic of the lord and the bondsman. It means while discussing the relation of lord and bondsman Hegel compares lord with independent consciousness and bondsman with dependent consciousness. This dialectic of lord and bondsman is sometimes referred to as the dialectic of the master and the slave relationship. In the productive system when everybody regards themselves to be producer and as a member of productive activity, when everybody participates in the large collaborative activity, then there exists no alienation in the society. But when people forget this identity then alienation arises in the society. Hegel thinks that when our consciousness reaches at the stage of itself called Absolute knowledge then it clearly comes to know that it is a differentiated spiritual unity of subjectivity and objectivity. Then it comes to know its own true nature and it overcomes its self-alienation. In the same way in society people overcome their self-alienation when everyone can think themselves to be a part of the whole community.
