Texts and Commentary: Hegel's Preface to His System in a New Translation with Commentary on Facing Pages & Who Thinks Abstractly?

by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Herbert Marcuse called the preface to Hegel's Phenomenology "one of the greatest philosophical undertakings of all times." This summary of Hegel's system of philosophy is now available in English translation with commentary on facing pages. While remaining faithful to the author's meaning, Walter Kaufmann has removed many encumbrances inherent in Hegel's style.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831) was a German philosopher and one of the founding figures of German Idealism. Influenced by Kant's transcendental idealism and Rousseau's politics, Hegel formulated an elaborate system of historical development of ethics, government, and religion through the dialectical unfolding of the Absolute. Hegel was one of the most well-known historicist philosopher, and his thought presaged continental philosophy, including postmodernism. His system was inverted into a materialist ideology by Karl Marx, originally a member of the Young Hegelian faction.

Reviews

[Mesoscope · Rating 5 out of 5]

In paperback, this short volume accompanies Hegel Reinterpreted; the two were originally published in one larger hardcover edition. This book contains Kaufmann's translation of the preface to Hegel's Phenomenology along with a "commentary," which consists essentially of long footnotes on opposing pages to the text, typically consisting of textual glosses, notes about his translation choices, or comments on variations between editions. He also includes a valuable translation of the short posthumously-published essay "Who Thinks Abstractly?" which gives an important clue to Hegel's overall approach.

As I read through the preface I compared this edition carefully to Terry Pinkard's rendering in his complete translation of the book, and both to the original German. Pinkard's translation is similar to Kaufmann's, and both are outstanding, and both constitute a very great improvement over A. V. Miller's somewhat overwrought version.

Of the three, Kaufmann's is the best, and it's a shame he didn't translate the whole work. Pinkard comes very close, though I will grumpily confess my minor irritation that he renders "Bildung," a common German word, as "cultural formation," which to the best of my knowledge is not actually a term in the English language. Given the tradeoffs and how Hegel himself uses the term in an expanded sense, Kaufmann's "education" is better, though I probably would have gone with "development."

In any case, this book is very useful for the English-speaking student of Hegel.

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this, the foreword to the Phenomenology with a commentary by Kaufmann, while still in college. Later, in seminary, I read the entire Phenomenology.

[Karl Hallbjörnsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like Kaufmann's translation of the Preface to the Phenomenology. Miller's translation is much, much better. The inclusion of Who Thinks Abstractly is a nice touch, though.

[Laci]

I just got to a point where I realized that Hegel renounced Christianity and found himself paralyzed with fear about what comes next

And this is where he landed when that fear consumed him. Maybe one day I’ll finish reading it and my opinion will change

[Kgb Kowboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good introduction to Hegel's work & project. The commentary helps the new Hegel reader a lot.

[Gilbert Wesley Purdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best possible introductory title. Kaufmann is exceptional, as always.

[oscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

“only one man understands me..and he not well”
yeah cause even your diagrams require a phd to understand
rip the goat you would have loved our dystopia we live in

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The preface to Phenomenology of Mind, with commentary on facing page.