Dialectical Thinking Led to the 'Negative' and the 'Negation of Negation'
According to Karl Marx ‘dialectical thinking’ is "nothing more than the science of the ge
neral laws of motion and development of nature, human society, and thought." [See Reader in Marxist Philosophy, Howard Selsam & Harry Martel, International Publishers (1963) ps. 153-157.]
Plato recognized ‘the negative’ when he said that "When we speak of ‘that which is not,’ it seems that we do not mean something contrary to what exists but only something that is different." [See Sophist at 257b.] In his Parmenides, Plato uses the negative to define the truth about a ‘pure one,’ which has no parts. He negates the lone existence of a pure one and shows that a pure one exists only if ‘other things’ also exist. If God is a ‘pure one, Plato concludes that God is a creator.
Friedrich Hegel spoke ‘the negative’ when he says that negativity exists in all finite things and defines and preserves the experiences we have in the world we live. [See Hegel: The Essential Writings, Frederick Weiss, Harper &Row, (1974), p. 8] According to Marx, Hegel was the first to formulate the ‘negation of negation’ when he used a triad to define the process we speak of as ‘development’ (aufheben). Hegel speaks of the ‘negation of negation’ as the ‘double negation’.
Hegel’s concept of development has three related moments of thought: (1) to cancel or suspend, (2) to raise up, and (3) to preserve or maintain. Of importance to Hegel is the negativity of the finite, a fact that defines and preserves the experiences we have in the world we live. These three moments resolve themselves into a twofold negation. The finite is itself the first negation. The second negation is the canceling or abrogating this finite negativity. The third negation is the absolute negativity of God, which is the opposite of God’s absolute positivity. Hegel says that the finite is not the truth but is a transition and emergence to something higher and to change. [See Hegel: The Essential Writings.]
In his theory of ideas, Plato used the negation of negation when he said that higher ideas can be developed from known ideas. [ See Republic at 511c.] Hegel used the negation of negation to show how a person can be redeemed if that person has fallen away from God. [See Hegel: The Essential Writings, p.8] Marx used the negation of negation to correct an economy in which private property was being accumulated only by a few citizens. [See Reader in Marxist Philosophy, ps. 153-157]. I used the negation of negation to develop the origin of all finite things in the universe. [See The First Scientific Proof of God, Part I, Ch. 1]
As seen, the concept of ‘development’ has a history. But, I do not believe that many Americans know this history. Isn’t it time for American scientists to become dialecticians? Further, isn’t the private property accumulations of some US citizens creating too many poor people?
neral laws of motion and development of nature, human society, and thought." [See Reader in Marxist Philosophy, Howard Selsam & Harry Martel, International Publishers (1963) ps. 153-157.]Plato recognized ‘the negative’ when he said that "When we speak of ‘that which is not,’ it seems that we do not mean something contrary to what exists but only something that is different." [See Sophist at 257b.] In his Parmenides, Plato uses the negative to define the truth about a ‘pure one,’ which has no parts. He negates the lone existence of a pure one and shows that a pure one exists only if ‘other things’ also exist. If God is a ‘pure one, Plato concludes that God is a creator.
Friedrich Hegel spoke ‘the negative’ when he says that negativity exists in all finite things and defines and preserves the experiences we have in the world we live. [See Hegel: The Essential Writings, Frederick Weiss, Harper &Row, (1974), p. 8] According to Marx, Hegel was the first to formulate the ‘negation of negation’ when he used a triad to define the process we speak of as ‘development’ (aufheben). Hegel speaks of the ‘negation of negation’ as the ‘double negation’.
Hegel’s concept of development has three related moments of thought: (1) to cancel or suspend, (2) to raise up, and (3) to preserve or maintain. Of importance to Hegel is the negativity of the finite, a fact that defines and preserves the experiences we have in the world we live. These three moments resolve themselves into a twofold negation. The finite is itself the first negation. The second negation is the canceling or abrogating this finite negativity. The third negation is the absolute negativity of God, which is the opposite of God’s absolute positivity. Hegel says that the finite is not the truth but is a transition and emergence to something higher and to change. [See Hegel: The Essential Writings.]
In his theory of ideas, Plato used the negation of negation when he said that higher ideas can be developed from known ideas. [ See Republic at 511c.] Hegel used the negation of negation to show how a person can be redeemed if that person has fallen away from God. [See Hegel: The Essential Writings, p.8] Marx used the negation of negation to correct an economy in which private property was being accumulated only by a few citizens. [See Reader in Marxist Philosophy, ps. 153-157]. I used the negation of negation to develop the origin of all finite things in the universe. [See The First Scientific Proof of God, Part I, Ch. 1]
As seen, the concept of ‘development’ has a history. But, I do not believe that many Americans know this history. Isn’t it time for American scientists to become dialecticians? Further, isn’t the private property accumulations of some US citizens creating too many poor people?
posted by George Shollenberger @ 12:00 PM
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