Understanding Hegelianism

Understanding Movements in Modern Thought

by Robert Sinnerbrink

"Understanding Hegelianism" explores the ways in which Hegelian and anti-Hegelian currents of thought have shaped some of the most significant movements in twentieth-century European philosophy, particularly the traditions of critical theory, existentialism, Marxism and poststructuralism. The first part of the book examines Kierkegaard's existentialism and Marx's materialism, which present two defining poles of subsequent Hegelian and anti-Hegelian movements. The second part looks at the contrasting critiques of Hegel by Lukacs and Heidegger, which set the stage for the appropriation of Hegelian themes in German critical theory and the anti-Hegelian turn in French poststructuralism. The role of Hegelian themes in the work of Adorno, Habermas and Honneth are explored. In the third part, the rich tradition of Hegelianism in modern French philosophy is considered - the work of Wahl, Kojeve, Hyppolite, Lefebvre, Sartre, de Beauvoir as well as the radical critique of Hegelianism articulated by Derrida and Deleuze. Although the focus is primarily on German and French appropriations of Hegelian thought, the author also explores some of the recent developments in Anglophone Hegelianism.

Genres: Philosophy

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2007

Reviews

[Acontecimal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tecnicamente não terminei mas fodase; preciso focar no Pibic

[Mavaddat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is especially lucid before the chapters seven (Between existentialism and Marxism: Sartre, de Beauvoir, Merleau-Ponty) and eight (Deconstructing Hegelianism: Deleuze, Derrida and the question of difference). After that, it became exceptionally difficult for me to follow what the author was trying to convey. I especially do not understand the antipathy that Derrida and Deleuze seem to have had toward philosophy as Hegelian dialectic nor do I understand why they think Hegel is insufficiently aware of the ontology of difference. It seems like these later French appropriations of Hegel emphasize one aspect of his logic at the expense of the others. Hegel seemed to be giving an account of how human discourse can and does meaningfully progress, but these later thinkers seem to regard this as the wrong project for philosophy... I just don't get it. I wish the author would have slowed down and fleshed out the details about why exactly these thinkers opposed Hegel's dialectic as a model for philosophical progress. The Further Reading chapter is exquisite and invaluable for setting down a to-read list for autodidactism.

[Thiago Da silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livro realiza bem o que propõe, a saber, apresentar os desenvolvimentos do hegelianismo. Começa apresentando alguns temas que foram priorizados no século XX, depois organiza os temas em "hegelianismo alemão" e "hegelianismo francês". Há algo de esquemático em tudo isso, mas me pareceu adequado à proposta de fazer um panorama.

[AG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relatively standard, but solid. Better on French Hegelianism than its German counterpart. The section on Habermas and Honneth is miserable to get through, though this might be attributable to their respective philosophies and not Sinnerbrink’s writing.

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

O livro é bom e traz os principais debates acerca das ideias de Hegel. Não recomendo como uma introdução ao seu pensamento, usei-o assim e tive bastante dificuldade para passar dos primeiros capítulos.