Freedom, Rights, and Mutual Recognition
First published Sun Jul 4, 2021; substantive revision Fri August 27, 2021.
We are born free. For Hegel, he wrote in
the Philosophy of Right, our being free means (1) being able to
exercise choice, (2) to own something, and (3) to work for one’s personal
needs. But, this does not follow to mean that we can just choose, own,
or work on whatever we desire upon. Our freedom is limited to what is (or
in other way of looking at it, genuine when) recognized by others. So, we are
only free (1) to choose, (2) to own, and (3) to work on something that is
mutually recognized by you and others to be so. Anything that goes beyond or
against the mutually recognized freedom is not genuine freedom. It is, but, an
abuse or violation of freedom.
Furthermore, the concept of right, for Hegel, is rooted in the
concept of freedom. What we are free to do constitute our rights. So, for
example, we have the right to own something – something that is mutually
recognized by you and others to be freely owned. Hence, as a free individual,
which in turn mean as an individual with rights, you can demand others to
respect your rights. Such are the terms like “actual” or “objective” applies to
Hegel’s conception of right when it is respected or recognized by you and others.
This is in contrast to “inalienable” or “superficial” rights that only you recognize
and others do not.
Again, to be truly free, and to truly have a right, we need
the recognition of others. In turn, others also need our recognition for
them to be truly free, thus, the need for mutual recognition. In this
process of mutual recognition our rationality comes in. It is then, our reason
that will enable us to decide among ourselves in a certain society what
specific rights are to be mutually recognized. The actual or objective rights mentioned
above, then, becomes the reason to form a community or state that protects our
rights. The protection of individual rights become the central role of a state.
Hegel believes that we are born to live in a state for
the reason that it is only in the state that we can be free through a rational
process of mutual recognition. He wrote explicitly in the Encyclopedia
Philosophy of Mind (1971, p.172), the intimate bond between
recognition, law, and the state. Our mutual recognition of rights becomes our
laws that will require each citizen to respect each other’s freedom and in turn
punish anyone who will go against it. Then, these laws embody the state that
upheld such laws. Without which, man cannot be truly free. Because, without the
state, his freedom and rights are always at the mercy of other people’s
judgements – he will forever go unprotected and unrecognized. But, with the
protection of the laws of the state, man can freely exercise his inherent
freedom and rights as an individual.
We are born free. And we will live free only in a given
state – in relation with others. With this, we have seen how Hegel have beautifully
tied the ideas of freedom, rights, mutual recognition, and the state. All of
these are interrelated. You cannot divorce one from the other.
Now, with you, do you agree with Hegel’s concept of freedom
and rights? With the importance of other’s recognition? With the importance of
the laws and the state? With how these concepts go together? What is your opinion
contrary to what we showed here?
Please let me know what you think in the comment section
below. If, you have questions, don’t hesitate to comment them too. Let us discuss
deeper and share your insights about this blog.
Reference:
Houlgate, Stephen. 2003. "G.W.F. Hegel: The Phenomenology of Spirit". In The Blackwell Guide to Continental Philosophy, edited by Robert C. Solomon and David Sherman, 8-29. USA: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
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