Question by dtkdrummer: In which work did the modern philosopher Hegel, use the metaphor of the curtain and a room?
I learned in class about a metaphor Hegel used. The basic idea is that everyone is in a room, and on one wall is a curtain. Everyone in the room is self-conscious so they are curious whats beyond the curtain, so they pull it, and it’s just a larger room with a another curtain at the other end. This just keeps going on and on, and the main take away is that the “Truth is the whole”. I cannot find where Hegel talks about this metaphor, can someone point me to which of his works and where in the works this metaphor can be located?
Yes, I am sure it’s Hegel. Although my professor told us the metaphor…perhaps he made the metaphor himself. I cannot find any other answers online either.

Best answer:

Answer by strateia8
Hegel says “The true is the whole” in preface to The Phenomenology of Spirit, para. 20 (Miller translation), but nothing there with a curtain. I don’t recall that metaphor in anything of Hegel’s, but I haven’t read everything. You’re sure it was it his metaphor? (Not accusing you of anything, just asking to double-check your memory, is all.)

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