thinking about contradictions today
according to hegel, everything contains its own internal contradiction (thesis and antithesis), and opposing forces do not simply destroy each other. instead, they preserve parts of each other while giving rise to a new understanding (synthesis). this tension is what drives change and progress.
i notice that people sometimes hold on to their ideas too tightly, while life keeps teaching us that the opposite might be true, too.
i understand that we avoid contradictions because we want things to make sense. we want to feel that we belong to one side. we want to know what we believe, what we want, and who we are.
but isn't it more interesting to lean towards an idea without completely shutting out the alternatives? to make room for contradictions in our way of thinking instead of trying to get rid of them? getting rid of them feels like turning our minds into deserts. when we consider different ideas together, we might discover something that neither could show us on its own.
- we can value freedom and still need structure.
- we can seek independence and still depend on others.
- we can see ourselves one way and still discover parts of us that don't fit.
- we can question an idea without having to abandon everything it has taught us.
- we can want things to stay the same and still recognize that change is necessary.