At first, a law comprehended by the understanding is posited in the understanding and not in the object, it is called an explanation. The Explanation is then understood in its essence as Force. Force is the same thing in the understanding as it is in reality, I’m not sure if this is because as force is expressed it has two movements it differentiates and then re-unifies in both the understand and the external universe OR if it is just something Hegel is unclear about. In the initial tautological movement of the understanding that precedes the movement into the second, inverse, super-sensible world, consciousness has for its sole object a unity. This object is merely the echo of an appearance, the repetition of the same. This movement creates a distinct object for consciousness that arises in direct relation to appearances and is then sucked down into a massive and more general unity. In this way appearances make an appearance (haha) in the understanding. This change and flux that the Understanding is now in tune to now replaces the static object as truth, and indeed is more truthful to appearance. This new truth is still a law that is self-identical BUT it is a low that expresses permanence of impermanence, an self-identical unity between unlikes. It is a law that is transition an “pure change”. Hegel claims that force appears to be different, to be an antithesis (due to the specific difference of the thing of appearance itself) to consciousness for an insubstantial moment but then is brought back into a grand unity, so that the antithesis posited disappears and is unessential. This grand unity is constantly positing its antithesis however so this unessential moment will continue to express itself, and be corrected. This is the process by which the understanding, which initially only raised appearances to the pure universal incorporates the flux of appearances into itself, and comprehends force as it is expressed in reality.
Force and The Understanding
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