The aspect of Hegel’s writing that I want to focus on this week is the master-slave dialectic and how the relationship of the master and slave is not necessarily literal and how it is still relevant in modern times. I want to compare the relationship between the master and the slave in Hegel’s writing to a modern-day issue faced in the United States; the identity crisis that has followed the adoption of social media. People turn to social media for the recognition that Hegel talks about.
In Hegel’s writing the master is someone who desires recognition, and the slaves are the only ones who can relinquish this desire. In relation to modern times, people have taken to social media for recognition and approval in the form of likes, retweets, and follows. The common user is a slave to the idea of finding self-worth through the actions of others and the masters are those who profit off the insecurities of the common user. The masters dictate the culture of social media and the slaves either follow along or face the consequences of not being a part of the “group”. A more “fun” example is when a new fashion trend starts appearing and how everyone starts to follow the trend blindly or face being left out of their social groups.
Another aspect of social media the creates a master and a slave dialectic is the fact the social media platforms create an echo chamber for all the content consumers. The algorithms that run these sites feed the users back content that they have shown interest in and in political terms, users are fed content that already aligns with their beliefs. Individuals grow by being exposed to new ideas and people but social isolates and create strong ideologies by only feeding user’s one-sided content.
Hegel also discusses how the slaves can overcome their slavery is a person who completely accepts and is satisfied with themselves. This would relate to modern times with someone either ceases to use social media or uses the platforms in healthier ways and not being blindly led. Lastly, ask yourself why do you use social media, is it for genuinely positive reasons or does social media usage have more dark effects than many of us realize?
Citations
Kojève, A., Queneau, R., Bloom, A., & H., N. J. (2012). Introduction to the reading of Hegel. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Hello Alex! I really enjoyed reading your presentation on the master-slave dialect in comparison to social media. As a communications major I am currently studying how social media platforms affect society and your presentation definitely resonated with some of the lessons. Your analysis on people who follow celebrities are the “slaves” because they are the ones who give recognition to the “owner”. Without these slaves, the owner would have no purpose and therefore not be recognized. Overall, I really enjoyed reading your context presentation.
I never though of using social media as an example for the master-slave dialectic, but this is extremely true and relatable for me. I feel that many in our generation would be able to relate to the relationship you described regarding social media. I completely agree that social media feeds users one sided content, this has absolutely polarized people more and more and I think this is intentional. In terms of the mater-slave dialectic, the “master” (social media) controls what users see, which causes people to have more polarized opinions which pushes them away from others and results in them having even more dependence on social media. This is absolutely a cycle that benefits the master and as you stated, the only way to break the cycle is to get off of social media or use it in a different way.
Alex, I thought your context presentation was very interesting to read about. I really liked how you used the master-slave dialect and compared it to the usage of social media. Our generation grew up with social media and I think we can relate to using the master-slave dialect to be recognized by other people so we follow so many people. But we need other people to recognize ourselves so we let them follow us back. I also liked how you mentioned that a slave can overcome their slavery if they accept it and is satisfied with themselves. I think if we take a break from social media, or use it in positive ways, many people will be happier.
Alex, I thought this was a great analogy for Hegel’s work, and one I definitely did not consider on my own. Given that, I want to respond to your question of why I use social media. I would have to say that I agree I use it in a master-slave dialectic way that you describe, but I do so without consciousness. As a result, I am being hurt by the “Other” without even knowing it. Therefore, as a result of this recognition, I will plan on limiting my use of instagram and try to draw my attention away from the “Others” likes and comments that give me “satisfaction.” I have learned from your post that social media has darker effects than I imagined it ever could.
I loved how you were able to compare Hegel’s work, from a long time ago, to the modern world we are all living in today. I think that your comparison to likes and followers defining how someone is really relevant especially with uprising of TikTok. With so many more people able to receive a platform, there are so many different standards and stereotypes about what us, everyday people should look and act like. Therefore, making us feel like the slaves to the masters or the influencers. So, to answer your question about why I use social media I think there is a variety of different reasons. I am able to form connections with new and old people, stay in touch with the latest trends, and create my own content to post. However, there are also many reasons why I think social media can be detrimental and you helped point that out through your comparison with Hegel.
I thought this was a very interesting Context Research Presentation. I would never have thought to compare social media to the master-slave relationship as described by Hegel. However, after reading your perspective, I very much agree that it exudes similar characteristics, especially regarding followers on social media. Growing up with social media, it seems as though we are constantly searching for affirmations, similar to the “master”. These affirmations come from our followers who play the roles of the “slaves”. I think social media can have some dark sides, but I also think it provides a platform for communication like never before. We just need to ensure that we are using it for the right reasons.
This was a great context presentation Alex. You did a magnificent job at interpreting the reading and making a connection to something we can all relate to thus enabling us to gain better comprehension of the text. The comparison of the master-slave dialect to the effects of social media in dictating the way many people choose to live their life is a great comparison. Social media has such a stronghold in current society by affecting how others think and behave that it is definitely the master in the relationship meanwhile us humans who are susceptible to fall into the grasp of social media are the slaves in the relationship. This makes me think of how a lot of artists today choose to focus more on their social media presence than their own musical talent in order to create a persona that can appeal to more people but eventually they end up sacrificing their own core fans and musical prowess for the sake of popularity. Social media is the master in this scenario again while the artist who should be the one in charge of how they handle their career ends up being the slave.
I really like how to compared Hegel’s writing to social media today and addressed it in a non literal sense. I fully agree with your point that social media has made everyone legitimately addicted and the “support” you get on your posts fuels your satisfaction. Your mention of the fact that social media recognizes what you enjoy and interact with and continues to provide that similar content to keep you drawn in, but prevents you from experiencing new content.
Good job on your context presentation Alex. I enjoyed how you related the master-slave dialectic to social media and the desire to be recognized by other people. Our generation heavily relies on the acceptance and approval of others which is mostly looked at by social media numbers. For example, the constant comparison between people and their followers and likes. The master is the one making a post on social media and striving for the recognition of others whilst comparing their results to others. To answer your final question, personally, I don’t use social media that often for social acceptance, more for entertainment so therefore I would say there is no dark effect for me. Finally, great interpretation of the master-slave dialectic and its relation to social media and our generation.
Hi, my classmate!
After reading your assignment, I totally agree with your points and ideas. It is true that Social media created the primary defense and secondary dialectics, which is the fact that social media platforms create echo chambers for all content consumers. On the other hand, your grammar and vocabulary are very good. I learn a lot after reading your assignment.
Hi Alex!
I thought that your context presentation was amazing with great use of social media as an example. I have never thought of social media being another example of the master-slave dialectic before. I feel in today’s world, there are plenty of examples of this dialectic, but the most prevalent is the usage of social media. I like how you mentioned in your presentation that one can break free of the master-slave dialectic by being satisfied by themselves without others validation. Sadly though, with many influencers and creators on the social media platform most people are looking for the validation through likes and comments. Numbers have become an important part of being “famous” or “popular” in terms of social media. People will compare themselves to others based on likes and comments rather than personality and morals. I think that your context presentation really connected the ideas from Hegel’s reading to real life situations that occur today.
I really liked your analogy and hadn’t thought about that comparison before. When thinking about modern day comparisons of the master-slave dialectic, I had thought about the relationship between a boss and his employee. Your discussion is really thought provoking. One specific example that comes to mind is the relationship between an “influencer” and their followers. As you stated, the master (the influencer) desires recognition, and slaves (their followers) are the only ones who can relinquish their desire. Without followers, the influencer loses their power. Followers also receive satisfaction from viewing their content, but ultimately, the influencer needs their engagement in order to thrive. This is a classic and clear example of a dependent relationship. I hadn’t thought about it before, but your analysis made me reflect on it. Social media definitely has more power than we think.
Hey Alex! I thought this was a great example of the master-slave dialectic to help a lot of us understand it easier. A lot of people are on social media way more than they realize. I can’t lie and say that I’m not one of them, but I am trying to make an effort to limit my usage by setting time limits on my phone. I think its very important for people using social media to understand the point you brought up about the apps using algorithms to feed you the content you want to consume. Its scary to think that we’re only getting one side of the story if we don’t make the conscious effort to examine both views. I recently watched the Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma” that dives deeper into this topic. In the documentary, they interview people who have worked for, and even some of the founders, of many social media companies. It discusses many of the topics you brought up, so I highly recommend it if you wanted to explore the topic more!
Hey Alex!
I really enjoyed the comparison you made between social media and the master slave dialect. The points you were making about social media consuming our lives and making us seem constant validation through things like “likes” was a great example of a modern day problem. The master in this situation would be the social media media platforms and they have a firm grasp on the users. I think people, especially in our generation live in a warped reality where we seem to compare ourselves to famous influencers. We constantly try to feel validated by arbitrary numbers and we think less of ourselves when our posts don’t reach the numbers we would like them to. This type of thinking is detrimental to people our age, and it may correlate to the increasing mental health problems that younger adults face. All in all, I think you did a great job tying the social media aspect of our lives to Hegel and the master slave dialect.
Hi Alex! You showed a great example comparing social media to the master-slave dialect. I do agree with your example because many people use social media for the wrong reasons and to seek the approval of others. The social media site’s show everything positive and happy going on in someone’s life so they can show others how great of a life they have. They seek likes and comments for approval which makes them the master and those who like and comment on their posts are the slaves. However, people are in control with what they are choosing to interact with on these platforms which can turn these users in the master. Social media can be very toxic in these regards if you are only on these platforms to seek approval.
Hi Alex! I thought this was a fantastic example of Hegel’s master-slave dialect. Bringing together an example from the modern age to better convey and explain this concept worked really well. I believe it was honestly a perfect example for the modern age. The more we have talked about this concept the more interesting it has become and I have been able to think of more exampled throughout the week. As someone who spends a lot of time on the internet, I can definitely agree that this is a very prevalent example that goes on every day. I honestly couldn’t tell you however which side I am on, the slave or the master.
hello, i agree with you that the reason that they were slaves because they spent so long looking for validation from someone. They spend so much of their time that they do not realize that they are only living to get others to praise them but not enjoying their lives. I think that social media people post to get likes from others and is almost the same. I do not think that some people notice that they post to get approval from others. I think that you did a good job at connecting how people in the past and the future do things differently but had the same goal in mind and that is receiving praise and validation from others. I do think that if social media gave the option to like others’ pictures then maybe there will be less reasons for people to post. Nice work
I think your example of social media is a great modern day interpretation of the master-slave dialect that I had not previously considered. We are obviously all familiar with social media which I think makes the theory more relatable and relevant to us as young adults. I especially appreciated the point in your presentation where you talked about the echo chamber that social media creates because it resonates on so many levels. Social media is the master and we are all just slaves to its’ senseless void. I think that the validation people get from social media has also just been heightened since most other “social” interactions have been distanced, I wonder how the internet society/culture will develop and change over time, worsening or bettering the master-slave relationship.
Alex – the connection you made towards social media is such a relatable comparison. I feel as though that would be overlooked by many individuals because it has become just a normal part of some of our lives. However, after reflecting on your post, I can completely agree that social media can be used as a way to receive validation. By posting an image creates a master and slave comparison like Hegel and creating a desire. Desire comes from wanting a set number of likes, comments, or getting the reassurance they are looking for when posting a photo. I am curious about how social media will change over the next 5-10 years and how it will be used – if it is still around. I believe that there will be changes and might be used less often and may be used more as a news outlet.
Hello Alex,
You have picked a timely topic that hits home for me. I was trying to convince my wife to take an online course last weekend by telling her that much of it is like having discussions on social media.
Like most people in these replies I appreciate how you have connected these ancient abstract thoughts to social media, which has such relevance and can be applied to how we manage potential master/slave relationships. These relationships could be between one another, ourselves vs. marketing, artificial intelligence, foreign powers, and so on. One can imagine we are all slaves to social media or could master others through it.
I experience positive and dark effects. I am happy to be in touch with people from my past while at the same time I develop very negative thoughts when I learn of some people’s social and political views. While I unfriend and stop following some, I find a deeper connection to others.
The pandemic has forced many of us into increased isolation that makes social media a useful tool for our relationships with one another. Optimistically I think we can reach a point where, like the slave, we gain more independence and freedom in relation to whatever is the master over us and find our own full self, while learning things and having a greater appreciation of life along the way.
I completely agree with this thought that modern day people are slaves to social media. I find myself on social media a lot during my free time when I could be out doing other things. Reading this has made me realize I do not really care about most of the content I see on social media, most people I do not even know personally. However, social media has become so normalized that it is almost like an automatic reaction to go look on instagram or snapchat whenever I go on my phone. Nowadays I almost find it strange when people do not have certain social media accounts or don’t look at it for multiple days in a row. I have definitely been influenced by the trends I see, but I do not feel this is such a bad thing. I enjoy seeing a new fashion trend or type of food I would like to try and I don’t feel pressured to follow any I don’t like.
Hi Alex,
I found it very interesting how you were able to connect the past and the present in your presentation. I hadn’t really thought about any master-slave dialect examples in the modern day world. However, the social media example was an excellent one. Social media users are constantly seeking validation and are controlled by the content they consume on social media. Social media has developed into the master, while those who consume the content on social media have developed into the slave. I also liked how you mentioned echo chambers. This point really proves how social media users are actually slaves to social media. The content they consume is constantly reused and recycled and put back on their page. Essentially, they have no choice but to continuously consume the same content. I really enjoyed this presentation.
Alex, your post has me thinking pretty pessimistically about our position in the world. While I was reading your post I was thinking about what I learned on The Social Dilemma on Netflix. The scariest part to me is that the social networking platforms can manipulate you to becoming more of a slave overtime. It is also scary that most of this stuff goes unregulated, so it doesn’t seem like things are gonna get better anytime soon.
I find it really interesting that you connected the master-slave dialect with social media. I never thought to make that connection, but it works really well. The influencers have power over their followers, but it’s paradoxical because they need the validation of their followers to exist. I like your connection to Hegel’s breaking of the slave position to the breaking of social media and its bond on the user. The one-sided feeding of content is really apparent in social media, as this is their best way of running ads and keeping you on their platform. I do agree that it has the negative effect of cementing user’s viewpoints though. I think many people go into social media with a positive intention, but the algorithm and technology eventually consume us into “slaves”.
Hi Alex, your view of connecting the master-slave dialect of and how the relationship of the master and slave is not necessarily literal and how it is still relevant in modern times makes me surprising and brings me a lot of thought. Actually, I act as a slave in this relationship beacuse many times I am addicted to the Internet, I can’t get rid of him, social media seems to control my life. In this point, social media usage has more dark effects than positive effects for me. However, as you said above, we should use the platforms in healthier ways and not being blindly led. Maybe this way is the truely way that the technology and the social media should be used and using it sparingly, and make continuous progress with its convenient effects.