Hegel and the Ought.

This text explores Hegel's perspective on the concept of "ought" and its relationship to morality and possibility. Hegel argues that the "ought" is often given too much importance in moral thought and that it implies an impossibility to fully conform to what is good. He also discusses the role of possibility and actuality in determining what is truly possible, emphasizing that possibility is always determined by actual conditions. However, he does not reject the existence of possibility altogether and acknowledges its presence in different stages of modality. Hegel concludes that practical striving should incorporate the relationship between actuality and possibility, rather than pursuing abstract possibilities divorced from reality. The text also explores Hegel's account of self-grounding and self-conditioning, emphasizing that the self is nothing other than the set of its conditions. Hegel argues that absolute necessity is not self-determining, but rather the actualization of conditions. The text concludes by discussing Hegel's concept of the good, which he sees as a metaphysical category that results from previous determinations. The idea of the good is defined as the unity between concept and reality, and Hegel believes that it corresponds with reality but does not guarantee its realization. The text further explores the tension and obstacles in achieving the good, suggesting that it is an ongoing process rather than a static ideal. [Extracted from the article]