An Introduction to Hegel: Freedom, Truth and History

by Stephen Houlgate

This classic introduction to one of the most influential modern thinkers, G.W.F. Hegel (1770-1831) has been made even more comprehensive through the addition of four new chapters.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, 19th Century, History

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Stephen Houlgate (PhD University of Cambridge) is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick.

Houlgate's "interpretation of Hegel's logic and his philosophy more generally continues to be guided by his claim that speculative thought develops immanently and without systematic presuppositions." He "thus contest[s] Heidegger's assertion that Hegel thinks ‘in accordance with a predetermined idea of being’ (an assertion endorsed by Derrida and Deleuze, amongst others)."

Reviews

[Arjun Ravichandran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much, much better introduction to Hegel than Charles Taylor's book. It is a rarity ; an introduction to one of the most formidable thinkers in history that presupposes no prior knowledge from the reader and is actually written well in accessible language. The author seems inclined to a slightly Christian interpretation of Hegel ; but this doesn't hamper his project of imparting the essence of what Hegel is trying to say about truth, reality, and history to a novice who is not yet prepared to read the philosophers' works in the original.

[Iben Bollaert · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,3 sterren. Prachtige inleiding tot het gehele Hegeliaanse systeem, gaande van zijn logica, filosofie van de natuur, geschiedenis en kunst tot religie met als ultieme rode draad: de ethische bekommernis om de mens als een vrij wezen.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An accessible and reasonably thorough introduction to Hegel's thought. Of course, an introduction shaped by Houlgate's own interpretations of Hegel's thought that I didn't always agree with, but nonetheless respectable for its breadth and accessibility.

Not particularly illuminating for those already acquainted with Hegel, but I'd still recommend it for those in the early stages of reading him.

[Vapula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing secondary for Hegel in general — though I would have liked him to cover some of the more authentically Hegelian atheist interpretations of Christianity, such as Altizer or Zizek.

[Brian Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

clearest explication of hegels thought that i have ever encountered, it was a relevatory experience, allowing me to grasp Hegel on firm ground at last and begin to comprehend his ideas.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and profound interpretation of Hegel's philosophy for the modern era, defending Hegel against his critics who see in his philosophy of right a precursor to dictatorial states and fascist anti-reason. Perhaps the most interesting, even controversial (for me almost incomprehensible from the perspective of a non-believer), is Houlgate's concluding chapter in which he defends Hegel as a mostly consistent Lutheran and the first to expound a philosophy in the "Christian spirit of truth" separate from its foundations in Greek philosophy from the time of the Church Fathers. It was an interesting thesis, though Houlgate took up a theologian's pen and is difficult to understand at points.

[Readius Maximus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Debating between 2 and 3 stars. "it was ok" seems about right though. I was excited at first to read about Hegel by someone who liked him but the author doesn't just like him he thinks he is not only the greatest philosopher but also the most Christian theologian as well. I would have much preferred someone who admired Hegel but was also aware of his flaws and contrasted different perspectives in order to help the reader decide for himself if he agreed or not. Instead the author spent the entire book showing why Hegel is the Goat.

I also found it odd how someone could write an entire book about Hegel and never mention the role of great historic figures in history such as Napoleon and their role in changing the concept. Nor did he ever mention how the dialectic of abstract meets it negation in order to form a higher synthesis of the concrete. He did talk about it indirectly but he never mentioned those three terms! How? Why? (I was literally just asking why but as I wrote it occurred to me that he takes shots at people who try to say that the Geist is prior to matter and is brought into regality and realizes itself in matter. The terms abstract, negative and concrete do not align with this interpretation. He prefers the interpretation that both come into being at the same time and that matter precedes Geist but Geist shapes matter. Could he have ignored those terms because they didn't fit his view? If someone has a better view post in the comments!)

Hegel seems to be trying to react against the Enlightenment in some subtle ways (that God is transcendent and separate from us and not immanent and realized in us, the separation of faith and reason especially in Protestant circles) yet he also trumps them and out does them in intellectual hubris. His starting point for his speculative philosophy (speculative mythology would be more accurate) is supposedly presuppositionless as if such a thing were possible. Yet he conveniently manages to justify the Prussian state and Lutheranism as the highest forms of the concept yet to be developed. So very convenient.

Hegel also claims his philosophy is a priori. That does not mean he could figure anything out a priori. What he means is he can justify things a priori without the need of experience but he does this while keeping one eye on experience because the dialectic can't actually reveal anything on it's own it can only justify things that have been discovered already and he admits this heavy reliance on the natural sciences.

Which further undermines his "presuppositionless science". This term is only used to undermine any previous convictions you might have that would keep you from believing whole heartedly in this gnostic scientific mythology. The totalitarian descendants of Hegel love this because they can dismiss anyone who disagrees with them as stuck in the old oppressive and patriarchal construct.

I get the impression Hegel is trying to find the balance between Plato and Aristotle, the Rationalists and the Empiricists, between faith and reason. Instead what he does is smash the two together and make one while forgetting the other one. What you get is just Aristotle or just Rationalism or just Reason. Although the Rationalism is odd because you get Empiricism inadvertently in an "objectified" manner and the Rationalism is more like Alchemy then reason.

As Hegel develops the dialectic through it's different stages he believes he is doing so without presuppositions and in an objective manner. Meaning anyone who started contemplating pure being would also end up being a huge supporter of his entirely heretical view of Protestantism or the Prussian state etc. While at the same time admitting their is no thing in itself and everything is mediated through the subject in this case Hegel. So his philosophy has the air of objectivity while at the same time being radically subjective and the basis of all existentialist and vitalist philosophies. Hegel seems to be completely unaware that the dialectic is fed through and emerges out of his own psychology and as Jung points out is one of the greatest psychological projections.

An example of this projection can be found in his Phenomenology where "we are truly self-critical and suspend all determinate preconceptions about being, we have no alternative but to regard being as that which thought understands there to be and so to regard thought in turn as the awareness of being as such." Ignoring the very obvious and intuitive and original presumption of Western Philosophy that reality is not always at it appears. But because Hegel is following a presuppositionless philosophy all such preconceived notions have to be set aside. He thus cuts himself off from any external critique and makes his thought incestous in nature.

It is interesting to observe how many recent thinkers spend a great deal of time talking about things they are proven to have no clue about. Hegel talks a great deal about freedom and reason and Christianity and clearly knows nothing about these topics. Nietzsche talks about great art and greatness and knows nothing about these either. Marx talks of production yet no Marxist economy can produce at all. Except Stalin made a lot of tanks and artillery but nothing else.

While Hegel talks a great deal about freedom and self determination he knows nothing about freedom. For one there is no room for the individual per se since Hegel believes the highest form of moral behavior is ethicality which is negating oneself in order to merge into the collective Geist of your people at that time. It is historically relative and people specific.

The author also conveniently fails to mention Hegel's contribution to the Nazi conception of the volk or people that is animated by a common spirit.

Hegel's view of religion would be amusing if it wasn't so sad. He ignores the divinity of Christ having a nature separate from us. His view of Christianity is almost Schopenhauerian in that to be like god you have to negate your individuality and merge into the spirit of the people or volk in a spirit of mutual love. Thus is born the new agers as well! Both philosophers negate the individual but Schopenhauer does so to merge with the thing in itself of the transcendent will while Hegel negates the individual to merge in the collective will which is ideally supposed to be one of love but Hegel acknowledges it seldom is historically speaking.

Hegel's Christ lacks divinity and lacks a true resurrection. No Hegelians being resurrected in our mind through faith in the possibility that we can be god as well does not count!!! I am not even a Protestant but this is such blatant heresy and new age to say the least! The only part of this story Hegel does get right is the incarnation and it's possible ramifications but he forgets everything else or I should say runs it through the dialectical blender so he get's rid of all the parts he doesn't like. Unlike many Protestants who fail to even remember the incarnation and what it implies Hegel latches on to this very well.

About the only aspect of Hegel that I liked his his concern over art that has turned out to be too well founded although he played a major role in contributing to what he feared most. His fear was art would lose it's harmony and ideal beauty in a sea of subjectivity. He had hope for modern art but fear as well.

The beginning and end of the book are pretty easy to understand. The middle portion is rough as it get's bogged down in Hegel's dialectical blender as he sucks what he likes from what he doesn't like out of all existence. The author, despite calling this an introduction really dumps you off into this blender with no warm up or explanation of terms. He never explains how negation works if I hadn't spent a lot of time already I would have been just as lost as if I was reading Hegel himself. Even then though I often got lost.

Overall I think Hegel committed the biggest crime against Philosophy ever perpetrated in history. Or maybe reason committed it's biggest crime against humanity in history.

[Durakov · Rating 4 out of 5]

It does what it promises, and provides a very worthwhile intro to Hegel. As I go through Hegel himself, it's clear that it's not actual possible to write a full introduction to his thought, because a good deal of it is about the experience of reading and following his line of thinking. What this book does is help you get over the horror and anxiety of reading Hegel's writing, which is so entirely unapproachable at first.

[Giovanni Generoso · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic introduction to Hegelian thought by Houlgate, an author who undoubtedly thinks very highly of Hegel himself and is extremely well-versed in his philosophy and its implications throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as today. I found the first few chapters and the last chapter on Christianity to be the most helpful.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't have read a better introduction

[Paolo De Ruggiero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is outstandingly clear, makes Hegel’s philosophy accessible better than any other similar book I have read. I can see it being interesting for beginners and specialists.

[madam bovary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect introduction

[Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Houlgate is the best interpreter of Hegel we have. Some may say, what does a "post hegelian" world look like, to them I say we haven't yet entered the Hegelian world!

[Nathan "N.R." Gaddis]

This looks like a really well done introduction to Hegel.