History is a Pendulum. The Philosophy of Hegel's Dialectic

Intro

We study history in an effort to not make the mistakes of the past. Yet, as we cycle through centuries of events, we can spot similar patterns of radical rebellion, progressive reform, and conservative backlash. It’s as if we operate on a pendulum, swinging from one extreme to another, until we find a balance. Then, as the ideas around us shift, we start swinging again. Don’t get it? Swipe for an example.

Monarchy, Republic, Empire

The traditional government system of absolute monarchy did not fit with the harsh social realities of 18th century France. This was quickly overturned by the 1789 revolution, which saw Louis XVI guillotined and the formation of a republic. The republic wanted to promise equality for all, but steered so far from social stratification that it resulted in a reign of terror. This ended with the rise of Napoleon, who united France under one-man rule while still preserving some liberty for the people.

The Dialectic

19th century German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel called this phenomenon the Dialectic. We start on what Hegel defines as a “thesis,” or one side of the historical pendulum. Once we get the motive to progress, we tend to overcorrect our issues, swinging to an opposite extreme on the pendulum, or the “antithesis.” Only after experiencing both extremes are we able to find a balance between them - a “synthesis.” Over time, as the ideas around us shift, this synthesis will become a new thesis, and the cycle starts again.

<< How We Progress >>

Hegel reveals that the way we move through history and improve the world around us is not a linear path. At certain moments we have to endure the harshness of a necessary antithesis, but as time passes, we’ll reach an improved synthesis. As we oscillate between extremes, we uncover important truths that previous years have overlooked, and slowly make our way towards progress.