The Philosophy of Hegel (Continental European Philosophy (Hardcover))

Few philosophers can induce as much puzzlement among students as Hegel. His works are notoriously dense and make very few concessions for a readership unfamiliar with his systematic view of the world. Allen Speight's introduction to Hegel's philosophy takes a chronological perspective on the development of Hegel's system. In this way, some of the most important questions in Hegelian scholarship are illuminated by examining in their respective contexts works such as the "Phenomenology and the Logic". Speight begins with the young Hegel and his writings prior to the "Phenomenology" focusing on the notion of positivity and how Hegel's social, economic and religious concerns became linked to systematic and logical ones. He then examines the "Phenomenology" in detail, including its treatment of scepticism, the problem of immediacy, the transition from "consciousness" to "self-consciousness", and the emergence of the social and historical category of "Spirit". The following chapter explores the Logic, paying particular attention to a number of vexed issues associated with Hegel's claims to systematicity and the relation between the categories of Hegel's logic and nature or spirit (Geist). The final chapters discuss Hegel's ethical and political thought and the three elements of his notion of "absolute spirit": art, religion and philosophy, as well as the importance of history to his philosophical approach as a whole. Although Hegel considered his philosophy of subjective spirit to be of particular importance, it has been the focus of little present-day scholarship, particularly in English. Recent editorial work associated with the publication of a new edition of Hegel's Gesammelte Werke and the discovery and translation of a transcript of one of his lecture courses on the topic, however, have set the stage for a fresh encounter with this fascinating and wide-ranging component of his thought. Taking up questions central to the philosophy of mind and body and to the philosophy of psychology, the Philosophy of Subjective Spirit includes discussions of feelings and emotions, consciousness, habit and free will, and rationality--as well as madness, dreams, and the paranormal. Situating Hegel's philosophy on the topic in relation to the rest of his work, to his contemporaries, and to current philosophy of mind and psychology, this volume demonstrates its richness as a focus of study and paves the way for a new direction in Hegel scholarship. Speight begins with the young Hegel and his writings prior to the Phenomenology, focusing on the notion of positivity and how Hegel's social, economic, and religious concerns became linked to systematic and logical ones. He then examines the Phenomenology in detail, including its treatment of scepticism, the problem of immediacy, the transition from "consciousness" to "self-consciousness", and the emergence of the social and historical category of "Spirit". Other chapters explore the Logic, paying particular attention to a number of contested issues associated with Hegels claims to systematicity and the relation between the categories of Hegel's logic and nature or spirit (Geist). The final chapters discuss Hegel's ethical and political thought and the three elements of his notion of "absolute spirit" - art, religion, and philosophy - as well as the importance of history to his philosophical approach as a whole. Annotation Few Philosophers Can Induce As Much Puzzlement Amongreaders As Hegel, Whose Works Are Notoriously Dense Andmake Very Few Concessions For A Readership Unfamiliar With His Systematic View Of The World. Allen Speight¿s Introduction To Hegel¿s Philosophy Takes A Chronological Perspective On The Development Of Hegel¿s System, Allowing Him To Illuminate Some Of The Most Important Questions In Hegelian Scholarship By Examining Works Such As The Phenomenology And The Logic In Their Respective Contexts. Introduction -- German Idealism And The Young Hegel -- The Phenomenology Of Spirit -- The Logic And Hegel's System -- Ethics And Politics -- Hegel And The Narrative Task Of History -- Art, Aesthetics And Literary Theory -- Religion And Philosophy. Allen Speight. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 133-160) And Index. Few philosophers can induce as much puzzlement among readers as Hegel, whose works are notoriously dense and make very few concessions for a readership unfamiliar with his systematic view of the world. Allen Speight's introduction to Hegel's philosophy takes a chronological perspective on the development of Hegel's system, allowing him to illuminate some of the most important questions in Hegelian scholarship by examining works such as the Phenomenology and the Logic in their respective contexts Few philosophers can induce as much puzzlement among students as Hegel. This introduction to Hegel's philosophy takes a chronological perspective on the development of Hegel's system. It illuminates some of the important questions in Hegelian scholarship by examining in their respective contexts works such as the "Phenomenology and the Logic." Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction 1. German Idealism and the young Hegel 2. The Phenomenology of Spirit 3. The Logic and Hegel's system 4. Ethics and politics 5. Hegel and the narrative task of history 6. Art, aesthetics and literary theory 7. Religion and philosophy Notes Further reading Bibliography Index Introduction German idealism and the young Hegel The Phenomenology of spirit The Logic and Hegel's system Ethics and politics Hegel and the narrative task of history Art, aesthetics and literary theory Religion and philosophy Guide to further reading.

The first English-language collection devoted to Hegel’s Philosophy of Subjective Spirit.