Hegel begins his discussion on self-consciousness in the Phenomenology
of Spirit with the form of desire (Begierde). After overcoming the stage of
naïve realism (see previous summary) Hegel holds that the self is still concerned with external
objects but it is characteristic of desire that the self subordinates the
object to itself (satisfaction) and to appropriate it or even consume it. However,
this attitude of desire breaks down when it comes to other selves. The presence
of the other is for Hegel essential in coming to self-consciousness. Developed self-consciousness can arise only
when the self recognizes selfhood in others and in itself (hence, truly social
or we-consciousness – of identity-in-difference). But in the dialectical
evolution of this phase of consciousness developed self-consciousness is not
attained immediately. Rather, Hegel’s study of the successive stages of
consciousness up to the level of self-consciousness is one of the more
interesting parts of The Phenomenology of
Spirit.
The existence of another self is a condition of
self-consciousness – yet the first spontaneous reaction when we are confronted
by another is to assert our own existence in the face of the other. The self
desires to annihilate the other (just as it does objects) as a means to
triumphing of the self over the other (the self uses the other to satisfy
itself). If such a move would be the literal destruction of the other, it would
also defeat the self’s own purposes. For self-consciousness requires the
recognition of the selfhood of the other (the other must recognize me if I am
to be self-conscious), and thus there occurs what Hegel calls a Master-Slave Dialectic at this level of coming to self-consciousness.
summary of Phenomenology of Spirit:
Hegel On Self-Consciousness
Summaries of Hegel's works and ideas (best read in succession):
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