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Basic
in explaining a theory is through tracing its intellectual roots � the ideas
in philosophy where it made a synthesis in order to carry out its explanation.
As San Juan (1968; 2004) argued, Rizal owed intellectual debt to the ideals of
the enlightenment philosophy. San Juan mentioned a lot of thinkers that became
influential to Rizal�s thinking but for the purposes of this paper, Hegel is
the most potent to discuss. In such a case, we can point out comparisons with
Marx, for Marx�s theory is grounded on Hegelian elements. A
teleological conception of history can be conceived in Hegel�s idea � the
idea that everything is moving towards an end point. Contradictions of ideas are
apparent
as
things are driven to the end, the very fact that brought the idea of dialectics.
Individuals can arrive at a greater idea by engaging in
dialogues and recognizing that their ideas contain within themselves inherent
contradictions; and what is left for them is to reconcile their ideas with their
opposites. In this way they can arrive with a new and better idea. The new idea
is again contradicted by a newer idea and the process repeats itself until
perfection and unity of ideas, i.e. reconciling point is achieved. If this has
taken place, this is the time when human beings will achieve emancipation and
freedom " the realization of their end/thelos (Cuff, Sharrock and Francis,
1998). But
Marx (famously) turned Hegel on his head (Craib, 1997). Marx argued that: ...
freedom in philosophy, freedom only in the mind was not the
same as real political freedom. Therefore, Hegel�s idea of history could not
offer
an
account of progression of history to �real� terms i.e. practical political
freedom if it only resulted in freedom in theory. For Marx, the real history of
human development could not be a history of thought or ideas; it would have to
be a history of human life in the real world, i.e. the world of ... political
being (Cuff, et.al. 1998:15). Clearly,
Marx synthesized and transformed the dialectics of ideas into the material. San
Juan (1997; 2004) also asserted that Rizal, being influenced by Hegelian logic,
was able to come up with a synthesis and transform the idealist stance of the
dialectics into the material. For Rizal, it is the contradiction of societal
forces that moves history in terms of the modes of production, ideological and
political forces. The primacy of contradiction is reduced to everything that is
real, thus real problems that confront society should be resolved in real terms.
For instance, Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo highlights the
dialectic of reform/revolution in order to seek for solutions on how to effect
societal change. Clearly, as set out in the two novels, the solutions for reform
and revolution are acted out in tangible terms. In
his discussion of Rizal�s �Liham sa
Kababaihan ng Malolos� (1889), �Sobre
la Indolencia de los Filipinos� (1890) and �Filipinas,
dentro de Cien A�os� (1890), San Juan (2004) pointed out Rizal�s
similarity with Marx � both of them employed the method of dialectical
materialism. |
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Copyright 2005.
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