Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit Course

Introduction to Hegel's broader career and what he is trying to communicate in the Phenomenology of Spirit

Description and example of historical Hegelians and anti-Hegelians that have shaped the field of thinking post-Hegel,

My own Hegelian orientation and pointing towards the fundamental relevance of thinking Hegelian historicity, as well as

An overview of course expectations and hopes.  The video also involves a two-part introduction to the Foreword itself, written by J.N. Findlay.  Part 1 focuses on three major themes in the Phenomenology of Spirit, including (1) World Spiritual Stages of Mental Progress, (2) Sensuous Immediacy of Science of Spirit, and (3) Spiritual Necessity of Absolute Knowing.  Part 2 focuses on six essential Hegelian principles including (1) universality and particularity, (2) dialectical process, (3) dialectical function, (4) nature of polarity/opposites, (5) absolute knowledge, and the (6) absolute in-itself.

This video introduces participants to the Introduction of the Phenomenology of Spirit written by G.W.F Hegel himself. The introduction is split into two major sections.  The first section covers (1) the way Hegel approaches the idea of objective knowing and absolute truth, (2) Hegel's difference with Newtonian physics and Kantian idealism, and (3) Hegel's own notions of scientific cognition.  The second section covers (1) the notion of the Absolute in-itself, and (2) the Absolute from the standpoint of phenomenological drama. After this introduction we open for a collective discussion on salient points related to the Introduction and absolute knowing.

Introduction to the Consciousness chapter.

The first section covering the triad of (1) sense, (2) perception, and (3) understanding; and the second section covering the (1) development of self-consciousness and the (2) meta-nature of consciousness in-itself.  After these two major sections we open collective discussion on salient points related to the chapter on Consciousness.

Introduction to Self-Consciousness chapter.

First section covering the the triads of subject-object struggle and intersubjective struggle; and the second section covering the spiritual struggle and the struggle with the absolute itself. After these two major sections we open collective discussion on salient points related to the chapter on Self-Consciousness.

Introduction to the Reason chapter.

The first section focuses on observing reason, and includes discussions on reason in-itself, reason and the world, and reason and the psyche.

The second section focuses on actualization of reason, and includes discussions on embodiment, community ethics, and the spiritual quest caught between vice and virtue. Finally, the third and final section focuses on the ethical substance of the 'matter in hand', and the existence of laws. After these three sections we open collective discussion on salient points related to the chapter on Reason.

Introduction to the Spirit chapter.

The first section focuses on man-woman/human-divine law and knowing, as well as alienated spirit in actualized culture.

The second section focuses on the enlightenment battle between faith and insight, as well as the development of the moral worldview, conscience duty, and the birth of actual religion.

Introduction to both the Religion chapter and the Absolute Knowing chapter.

The first section focuses on the chapter on Religion, which is in turn organized into the three subsections "Natural Religion", "Religion as Art", and the "Revealed Religion".

The second section focuses on the chapter on Absolute Knowing, which is in turn organized into three subsections "Self-Knowing Universal I", "Absolute Knowing as Historicity", and "Concluding Statements: History/Spirit".

Introduction to the Preface of the Phenomenology of Spirit. Three main themes:

(1) metaphysics of intuition/feeling of oneness versus science of notion and self-becoming;

(2) absolute as substance and also subject, truth as reflective self-relation/negativity;

(3) philosophical/absolute cognition as temporal notion immersed in sheer unrest of life. This video is secondly a community Q & A about the main principles of the Preface.