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sciousness is outside of itself. This has a twofold meaning. First,
it has lost itself, for it is to be found as an other essence. Second,
it has thereby sublated that other, for it also.” (PoS p. 109.)
This fight appears to be for existence and freedom, but they are
really fighting for recognition. The issue of the two opposed subjects,
Hegel of course writes not a word about this but never mind is that
they are mutually alien to each other. Hegel uses the expression
“other” (das Andere), and the he sets the concept of the “self” (sich
selbst) in opposition to it. It can be easily acknowledged that both
are alien from the perspective of the other. The fight, meanwhile,
appears to be for existence. But this really is just how it appears.
What is at stake is really to achieve freedom through recognition.
One and the other both want to be free. Each wants to be recog¬
nized by the other. The fight is for this, even at the cost of killing
the other or of one’s own death. “And it is solely by staking one’s
life that freedom is proven...” (PoS p.111.)
The struggle ends when one abandons their freedom in ex¬
change for their life while the other clings to freedom even at the
cost of their life. The latter becomes the “master” while the other
the “servant” or slave. One is only recognizer, the other is only
recognized. The relationship that comes into being as a result of
this is two-sided but unequal, which is the cause of the tension.
“However, what prevents this from being genuine recognition is
the moment where what the master does with regard to the other,
he also does with regard to himself, and where what the servant
does with regard to himself, he also is supposed to do with regard
to the other. As a result, a form of recognition has arisen that is
one-sided and unequal.” (PoS p.114, PdG p.112)
Once more: the master (I as same) gets freedom and life, while
the servant (you as alien) only gets life. One becomes an independ¬
ent being, while the other becomes dependent, either through íts
recognítion or the lack thereof. One becomes dependent because
it relies on the other for everything. That is alien to it. The servant
gives up their freedom in exchange for their life, as do so many these
days: happily, whistling, saying, “Well, never mind, freedom wasn’t