The Status of Women in Idealism A Postmodernist Phenomenologico ontological Analysis

ABSTRACT

This study is centered on the idealism of George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770 - 1831). It is

anchored on a tripod of theme, problem and methodology. The theme of this study is Hegel‟s

idealism. The problem is the status of women in Hegel‟s idealism, and the methodology is

postmodernist phenomenological ontology. This tripod of theme, problem and methodology is

further premised on the theoretical framework of Inter-subjectivity which offers us the

opportunity to explore the polarity in Hegel‟s idealism as it relates to women. The work is

primarily a critique of Hegel‟s idealism from a postmodernist phenomenologico–ontological

perspective. The critique of Hegel idealism focuses on his dialectics which is the logic of Hegel‟s

idealism. In other words, if Hegel‟s idealism projects dialectically, and if in this dialectics of

reason;

(a) matter stands in opposition to reason that is, spirit,

(b) it follows that there is an antagonistic reciprocity between reason (spirit) and matter,

(c) leading to a lopsided reconciliation of this antagonism.

The implication here is that synthesis in Hegel‟s idealism is not the synthesis of opposites, but

the reconciliation of spirit to itself. By the foregoing, if Hegel‟s idealism is made the foundation

for human interrelationship, it will always create a polarity between the sexes and among the

races. The polarity of sexes rather bifurcates the male and female gender, than reconcile them,

thereby posing a dangerous precedent if left unresolved. The objective of the study therefore is to

unmask and resolve the polarity in Hegel‟s idealism. It is in the light of this that we embarked on

a postmodernist phenomenologico – ontological deconstruction of Hegel‟s idealism, in order to

posit a pluralist platform that will inculcate a win–win temperament; hence, acting as a basis for

ameliorating the so much diversity among the sexes, thereby promoting the orientation of gender

neutrality.