Milk, Gay Rights, and Hegel's Dialectic Method
Thesis, Antithesis and Synthesis within Historical Civil Movements
Apr 9, 2009
Although Hegel himself preferred to use the terms Abstract, Negative and Concrete to illustrate his ideas about historical and political processes, his dialectic method is often explained in the following more known and accessible terms of "Thesis", "Antithesis" and "Synthesis". These terms can also help understand modern social and political processes, such as the gay civil rights movement, led by politician and activist Harvey Milk.
The Dialectic Method, Zeitgeist, and Historical Influences
The Thesis involves a new proposition. One could compare it to a motion that is proposed. The Thesis, however, would illicit reaction, in most cases it would be primarily opposition or a negative reaction to the motion. This conflict would be resolved in a Synthesis if it is worth pursuing and if not, the thesis would be rejected and the motion is not followed upon and remains unused.
Hegel also believed that history itself influences and shapes people more than individual propositions. When there was a petition to abolish slavery, it was often met with opposition and was rejected throughout history until finally the Thesis culminated in a Synthesis, which made it a general, universal and inalienable law. Nonetheless, it succeeded only when the “Zeitgeist” or the society of the times was ready to embrace the proposition.
Historical Civil Rights Movements and their Outcomes
In the end, history itself would decide whether a movement ought to be accepted or rejected. As an example, when it came to women’s rights to vote it was indeed a relevant and resilient issue and women’s suffrage was finally accepted in 1920 in the United States. It was not until 1967 that interracial marriages ceased being considered unconstitutional. All of these changes would, according to Hegel, validate that the Thesis was worth pursuing and relevant towards the freedom of humanity.
Harvey Milk and the Gay Civil Rights Movement
The gay civil rights movement found one of its main sparks and spokespersons in the first openly gay politician Harvey Milk. In typical Hegelian terms Harvey has been quoted to say: “I am not a candidate, I am part of a movement. The movement is the candidate.” The gay movement, however, has been often met with hostile reactions and criticisms and there has been up to recent times, strong opposition towards the acceptance of fundamental gay rights.
Using Hegel´s method, it would mean that the movement is in its second part of Antithesis. History seems not to be able to look beyond its own customs and times similar to previous movements of slavery and emancipation rights. However, seen in the context of freedom and the quest for equality and acceptance of fundamental human rights, history will eventually make the correct choice and resolve the issue in a Synthesis, thus fully accepting and integrating each and every human being regardless of race, creed, or sexual orientation.
 |
 |
 |
