Hegel's 'Individuality': Beyond Category

This book explores Hegel's use of 'individuality,' which departs from the norm and requires active participation by a thinking subject to discern it. It should not be confused with 'individualism' and embraces a paradoxical anachronism, as it emerged as an essentially modern category.

Format: Hardback
Length: 415 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This captivating book delves into a previously underexplored aspect of Hegel's intellectual journey: his profound exploration of the concept of 'individuality (Individualität). Hegel became an active participant in a vibrant discourse, spanning from the intellectual prowess of Leibniz to the romanticism of the era and beyond. The book unfolds in a series of chapters, each tracing Hegel's engagement with this novel concept/phenomenon through various texts, including the Phenomenology, Encyclopedia, and Aesthetics. While Hegel's system predominantly employs a syllogistic logic (universal, particular, singular), 'individuality deviates from the norm. This category operates with a specific pragmatics, distinct from semantics or syntactics, concerning tacit assumptions at work or implicit terms of address. It necessitates active participation by a thinking subject, tasked with discerning the essence of individuality (which prohibits the reliance on explicit rules). Moreover, the category inherently implicates the user, even when assuming an objective context. It is important to note that 'individuality' should not be conflated with 'individualism,' which possesses a distinct origin. Furthermore, Hegel's Aesthetics presents a paradoxical anachronism, akin to the essence of 'art itself.' While 'individuality' emerged as a fundamentally modern category, it was transplanted to the past and distant cultures, showcasing the enduring relevance and universal nature of this concept.

Weight: 688g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031213687
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023