Answer to Question #227697 in History for SPARTA

Question

4.1 Who is George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel? (5 marks)

4.2 What did Hegel argue about Africa and its place within history? (5 marks)

4.3 Do you agree with Mbembe’s criticism of Hegel? Explain why. (10 marks)

Answer 1

1) Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was a German philosopher who contributed significantly to German idealism. Through his political and social thought, Hegel also contributed to the understanding of the state and the significance of ethics in building the state. Hegel, among other philosophers, were the post-Kantian idealists who established better arguments regarding the role of the state and the contribution of the members of the state. Furthermore, the ideas expressed by Hegel were imperative towards the understanding of the modern state, and the participation of various individuals in creating the modern state. Apart from the state ideologies, Hegel also contributed to philosophy by discussing the ethical issues in the society and the essence of morality in the society.

2) Hegel's Negation of Africa from History and Civilization Africa is not among Hegel's four cultures or civilizations. From Hegel's perspective, Africa is said to be unhistorical; undeveloped spirit - still involved in the conditions of mere nature; devoid of morality, religions and political constitution. Hence he holds that there is a justification for Europe's enslavement and colonization of Africa. For him, slavery causes the "increase of human feeling among the negroes." Due to his theses on Africa, Hegel is rejected by many black scholars. His work on Africa is said to glorify Ancient Greece, while it ignominiously and grotesquely denigrates Africans, whom he sees as children in the forest, unaffected by the movement of history. Joseph Harris holds that Hegel's ignominious pronouncements"on Africa are a great contribution to the stereotypic imageof Black people."" However, Charles C. Verharen offers the keenest criticism in his essay "The New World and the

Dream to Which It May Give Rise: An African and American Response to Hegel's Challenge." In this work, Verharen marks a pleasant display of erudition and a revenge for all Blacks who are offended byHegel's denigration of their race.

3) Yes i agree with Mbembe's critism because until African leaders realise that they have to build a strong coalition among themselves and the people in resisting neo-colonial forces, the future of the continent is doomed. It is time leaders stopped harping on neocolonialism as the only cause of Africa's problems and looked at themselves and the damage they have done to the continent. They have been equally

destructive.