What do you think?
Rate this book
Starting with Hegel
G.W.F. Hegel is without doubt one of the most important and influential thinkers in the whole history of philosophy. Covering all the key concepts of his work, Starting with Hegel provides an accessible introduction to this significant thinker. Thematically structured, the book leads the reader through a thorough overview of the development
of Hegel's thought.
Craig B. Matarrese shows how the questions that guided his early writings in fact shaped his entire career and thereby offers a more thorough understanding of the roots of his philosophical concerns. Providing coverage of the full range of Hegel's ideas, the book offers detailed examinations of all his key texts, including The Phenomenology of Spirit and The Philosophy of Right. Crucially the book introduces the major thinkers and events that proved influential in the development of Hegel's thought, including Kant, Schiller, Fichte, Schelling, the French Revolution, the Enlightenment, and romanticism.
of Hegel's thought.
Craig B. Matarrese shows how the questions that guided his early writings in fact shaped his entire career and thereby offers a more thorough understanding of the roots of his philosophical concerns. Providing coverage of the full range of Hegel's ideas, the book offers detailed examinations of all his key texts, including The Phenomenology of Spirit and The Philosophy of Right. Crucially the book introduces the major thinkers and events that proved influential in the development of Hegel's thought, including Kant, Schiller, Fichte, Schelling, the French Revolution, the Enlightenment, and romanticism.
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2009
5 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 2, 2018
helpful as a secondary text
October 1, 2019
Excellent summary of Hegel. Convinced me that maybe there is good reason why so many have interacted with the man's thought.
June 1, 2025
unexpectedly very joyable
July 10, 2011
Pithy summaries of the complex mechanism of Hegelian thought. Excellent.
There are moments where you feel that the author is going too far to defend Hegel's more dated views, and perhaps these interpretations, couched in modern doxology, take liberties with Hegel's original text (I really need to look into these texts, before passing too much judgement here). There are also moments when modern philosophy (Heideggerian ontology, Wittgensteinian narrowness of regard) is made to fit snugly into Hegel's doctrines and this is potentially retroactive and problematic.
The main problem is the lack of criticism on Hegel's ideas. Without it, we have a potentially modernized Hegelian perspective, perhaps tendentiously constructed. Of course, Hegel himself would likely consider these developments a function of history, rather than any sort of divergence, and would welcome them as a consequence
Anyway, a great introduction
There are moments where you feel that the author is going too far to defend Hegel's more dated views, and perhaps these interpretations, couched in modern doxology, take liberties with Hegel's original text (I really need to look into these texts, before passing too much judgement here). There are also moments when modern philosophy (Heideggerian ontology, Wittgensteinian narrowness of regard) is made to fit snugly into Hegel's doctrines and this is potentially retroactive and problematic.
The main problem is the lack of criticism on Hegel's ideas. Without it, we have a potentially modernized Hegelian perspective, perhaps tendentiously constructed. Of course, Hegel himself would likely consider these developments a function of history, rather than any sort of divergence, and would welcome them as a consequence
Anyway, a great introduction
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews