Paul Trejo, MA Philosophy & Religious Studies, The University of Texas at Austin
The biggest possible paradox is that, in the Dialectical logic of Hegel, the category of Pure Being and the category of Pure Nothingness are obviously opposites, and yet dialectically identical.
This Dialectical Unity of Opposites forms the starting point for Hegel's Dialectical Encyclopedia. In my reading, it could be called the greatest paradox of all time, because 200 years later, most philosophers still don't get it.
Yes, this is why there is something strange in Bataille’s writing, which is heavily influenced by Hegel. He enjoins us to embrace the concept of “nothing”, but from what I have sensed, it means the opposite, in terms of its consequences. By reducing thought to “nothing” one stops striving for the world, and yet regains the world.
APES IN CAPES!
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