Self-consciousness and the critique of the subject : Hegel, Heidegger, and the poststructuralists

Poststructuralists hold Hegel responsible for giving rise to many of modern philosophy's problematic concepts―the authority of reason, self-consciousness, the knowing subject. Yet, according to Simon Lumsden, this animosity is rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of Hegel's thought, and resolving this tension can not only heal the rift between poststructuralism and German idealism but also point these traditions in exciting new directions. Revisiting the philosopher's key texts, Lumsden calls attention to Hegel's reformulation of liberal and Cartesian conceptions of subjectivity, identifying a critical though unrecognized continuity between poststructuralism and German idealism. Poststructuralism forged its identity in opposition to idealist subjectivity; however, Lumsden argues this model is not found in Hegel's texts but in an uncritical acceptance of Heidegger's characterization of Hegel and Fichte as "metaphysicians of subjectivity." Recasting Hegel as both post-Kantian and postmetaphysical, Lumsden sheds new light on this complex philosopher while revealing the surprising affinities between two supposedly antithetical modes of thought. Postculturalists Hold Hegel Responsible For Giving Rise To Many Of Modern Philosophy's Problematic Concepts - The Authority Of Reason, Self-consciousness, The Knowing Subject. Yet, According To Simon Lumsden, This Animosity Is Rooted In A Fundamental Misunderstanding Of Hegel's Thought, And Resolving This Tension Can Not Only Heal The Rift Between Poststructuralism And German Idealism But Also Point These Traditions In Exciting New Directions. Revisiting The Philosopher's Key Texts, Lumsden Calls Attention To Hegel's Reformation Of Liberal And Cartesian Conceptions Of Subjectivity, Identifying A Critical Though Unrecognized Continuity Between Poststructuralism And German Idealism. 1 The Metaphysics Of Presence And The Worldless Subject: Heidegger's Critique Of Modern Philosophy 25 -- Descartes And The Rise Of The Knowing Subject 26 -- Heidegger's Critique Of Hegel 33 -- 2 Fichte's Striving Subject 38 -- Critique Of Dogmatism 41 -- Review Of' Aenesidemus 43 -- Self-positing, Acting, And Intellectual Intuition 47 -- The Check As A Realist Constraint 51 -- Striving, Normativity, And The Thing-in-itself 57 -- The Unifying Function Of Striving 60 -- 3 Hegel: Self-consciousness And Self-determination 66 -- The Limits Of Kant's Epistemology 68 -- Hegel's Critique Of Fichte 78 -- Kant's Subjectivism And The Promise Of Apperception 84 -- Thought And Experience 88 -- The Phenomenology's Reorientation Of Self-consciousness 96 -- Spirit, Self-determination, And Self-consciousness 104 -- 4 Heidegger, Care, And Selfhood 110 -- Das Man And Inauthenticity 112 -- Anxiety, Individuation, And Authenticity 115 -- Care 121 -- Conscience And The Authentic Self 126 -- Hegel And Heidegger 132 -- 5 Derrida And The Question Of Subjectivity 138 -- The Heideggerian Background 140 -- Overcoming The Self-present Subject 143 -- Derrida's Challenge To The Unified Subject 145 -- Autonomy, Singularity, And Responsibility 149 -- The Destabilizing And Skeptical Role Of Reason In Hegel's Thought 158 -- Hegel's Transformation Of The Modern Subject 162 -- Singularity And Responsibility In Derrida And Hegel 171 -- 6 The Dialectic And Transcendental Empiricism: Deleuze's Critique Of Hegel 177 -- Sense-experience And Individuation 179 -- Individuation And The Critique Of The Subject 186 -- The Distorting Effects Of Hegelian Negation 189 -- Hegelian Self-consciousness And The Transcendental Empirical 193 -- The Reception Of Kant's Legacy In Deleuze And Hegel 199 -- Hegel And The Dynamism Of Modern Life 206 -- Self-world Relation 211. Simon Lumsden. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Table of Contents 8 Acknowledgments 12 Abbreviations 16 Introduction 22 1. The Metaphysics of Presence and the Worldless Subject: Heidegger’s Critique of Modern Philosophy 46 2. Fichte’s Striving Subject 59 3. Hegel: Self-Consciousness and Self-Determination 87 4. Heidegger, Care, and Selfhood 131 5. Derrida and the Question of Subjectivity 159 6. The Dialectic and Transcendental Empiricism: Deleuze’s Critique of Hegel 198 Conclusion 238 Notes 244 Bibliography 266 Index 276