Kojeve is just so clever, he salvages the entirety of ridiculous metaphysics about "the soul" by saying: "Ah yes, the soul, that is Nothing, this is very important too, that it is Nothing. Only Humans have souls because only Humans give voice to the Nothingness that is Death."
Yes yes, God, the Soul... all of this is Nothing. But this does not mean "a trivial thing"-- but a very serious thing! Nothing is more important than Everything! Everything is just a bunch of stuff-- it's just "matter" & nature & objects-- but Nothing! There is Nothing like it!
For so long people are confused thinking the soul is "something"-- but it's actually nothing-- & that's what animals lack-- they lack an insight into Nothingness-- that's what distinguishes Man from Everything.
Ich ging im Walde So für mich hin, Und nichts zu suchen, Das war mein Sinn.
Im Schatten sah ich Ein Blümchen stehn, Wie Sterne leuchtend Wie Äuglein schön.
Ich wollt es brechen, Da sagt' es fein: Soll ich zum Welken, Gebrochen sein?
Ich grubs mit allen Den Würzeln aus, Zum Garten trug ichs Am hübschen Haus.
Und pflanzt es wieder Am stillen Ort; Nun zweigt es immer Und blüht so fort.
-Goethe
On nothing have I set my heart,
Hurrah!
So in the world I bear my part,
Hurrah!
And whoso will be friend of mine
Must join with me, and not decline
To clink a glass of wine.
-Goethe
Now I have set my heart on nought.
Hurrah!
The whole world to my feet is brought.
Ah, ah!
My song and feast to end I'm fain,
So every one your glasses drain,—
Let not a drop remain!
Tragic: "Nothing satisfies me"
Comedic: "NOTHING satisfies me!"
Tragic: "I have sacrificed my life for nothing"
Comedic: I have sacrificed my life for NOTHING!"
The Goethe poem about "looking for nothing" -- & taking a flower, removing it from nature, making it a piece of art-- this is what Kojeve describes as the end of history-- we turn "natural life-forms" into Objets d'art.
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