Some antitheses are best resolved through compromise, others through synthesis — but the antitheses that matter to me are those that are resolved through sublation.
To clarify: Compromise means finding a mid-point between the antitheses. Synthesis means analyzing the antitheses and identifying the most important elements and constructing a single coherent construction. Sublation means looking at the antitheses in order to discover a new way of seeing the problem that satisfies all involved to a greater degree than either of the antithetical positions did. The antithesis is obsoleted by a new and deeper conception.
The word “transcend” could also be used in place of “sublate”, but it carries too many mystical connotations. The word sublate, as I use it comes from Hegel, and is a translation of the word aufheben. According to Wikipedia:
In Hegel, the term Aufhebung has the apparently contradictory implications of both preserving and changing (the German verb aufheben means both “to cancel” and “to keep”). The tension between these senses suits what Hegel is trying to talk about. In sublation, a term or concept is both preserved and changed through its dialectical interplay with another term or concept. Sublation is the motor by which the dialectic functions.
When Spring comes and things are more cheerful, I’m going to finish reading Hegel’s Phenomenology of Mind aka Phenomenology of Spirit. Geist means both spirit and mind, a fact worth pondering, especially considering that the nuttiest “Christian” Holy Geist-mongers out there have their roots in German-modified Christianity (which in turn was derived from Roman-modified Christianity, which was derived from Pauline Christianity, which developed separately from Petrine Christianity. And who even knows what Christ himself was thinking? And American fundamentalism is really a very recent theological movement [pdf], very American, very modern, very plebeian in every sense… and also rooted in socialism, believe it or not. And even many so-called “traditionalists” have embraced tradition from a fundamentally non-traditional Christian attitude akin to fundamantalism. Contemporary religion is a huge mess.
Can I raise you a soul? Our ‘soul’ is both body and spirit.
But I really love the geist connection (can’t wait to tell scriptorian hubby). This further emphasizes the fact that historically the Catholic Church regularly referred to the Holy Ghost, but eventually deferred to Holy Spirit (as if it were more ‘politically’ correct — hmmm, although the sign of the cross is made with reference to the Holy Ghost). The LDS Church still holds firm to predominant reference to the 3rd divine entity as the Holy Ghost – the means by which to receive pure knowledge, which touches our mind and our heart.
To cancel and to keep — a great design paradox. It is a kata for renewing and shaping (growth).