Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit - Unhappy Consciousness Essay - 1

Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit - Unhappy Consciousness - Essay Example in order to give out a clear description of his plot since he associated this human stage with the early Christian era where people used to turn away from the upheavals of the world’s common life and concentrated on ascetic and monastic lives coupled with prayers. According to Hegel, people heading an ascetic life nurtured unhappy consciousness until they attained the will of truth. To begin with, unhappy consciousness is an instance of self-consciousness because, it arises out of human beings when it is fighting or struggling to attain recognition from others in order to realize individual self-consciousness as a subject (Wilhelm and Hegel 110). Unhappy consciousness lead to fears and troubles that make people feel uncomfortable. It also disturbs their state of mind that makes individuals confused. As a result, victims of unhappy consciousness end up seeking refuge in religious centers and within philosophical systems so as to stay away from the struggles and fights in this stage of mind. In addition, unhappy consciousness turns out to be an instance of self-consciousness since it resolves in making its subjects turn to seek anything comforting. Fear and objectification caused by unhappy consciousness make individuals seek refuge and comfort in beings that do not live visibly (118). They do not attempt or struggle to attain recognition among human beings but isolate themselves and keep-off the struggles (121). This act of turning towards the transcendent being comes because of the initial struggle of consciousness trying to get hold of nature. As those individuals who live monastic life strive to grasp a sense of certainty, they encounter the universal concepts of nature. At the long run, these individuals do not change. Instead, they remain to be the same and maintain their consciousness despite the struggle for seeking refuge. Therefore, unhappy consciousness is an instance of self-consciousness. Unhappy consciousness is an instance of self-consciousness