Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit – 2nd cycle

Reading Group as part of the Praxis-CFUL activities

 

Working language: English

Organizers: Dr. Mariana Teixeira (mariana.o.teixeira[at]edu.ulisboa.pt) and Silvia Locatelli (locatelli.silvia.96[at]gmail.com)

When: twice a month on Fridays, from 16h00 to 18h00 (Lisbon Time), according to the program below

Format: online (link shared via email after registration)

 

Attendance is free and open to the public. Please register via email:  praxis.reading.group.hegel@gmail.com

 

DESCRIPTION

Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit is one of the most important – and difficult – texts in the history of philosophy, with its original mode of narrative that focuses on the development of human consciousness and spirit over time, introducing the idea of dialectical progression where ideas and concepts evolve through contradiction.

Since its first publication in 1806-1807, it has captivated generations of philosophers and social theorists, having influenced many schools of thought, such as Marxism, existentialism, feminism and contemporary critical theory. But its importance can also be attested by the passionate responses it provoked among its critics, from Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche to more recent approaches, such as post-structuralism.

Through the collective reading of the integral text of the Phenomenology, we will attempt in this Reading Group to understand how action and knowledge develop in the course of the search for truth: of oneself and of the world, and in relation with otherness. We will follow the journey of consciousness through the many figures it encounters – including, for instance, the much-discussed figures of the master-slave dialectics, the struggle for recognition, the unhappy consciousness, Antigone, and the beautiful soul – in order to grasp the role of experience in the consciousness’s path towards absolute knowing and to unveil the book’s critical potential.

The edition to be consulted is Michael Inwood’s translation:

Hegel, G.W.F. 2018 [1807]. The Phenomenology of the Spirit. Trans. M. Inwood. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

PROGRAM – 2nd cycle

 

Session 1 | October 11th, 2024

V. Reason C. Individuality, which, to itself, is real in and for itself (c.) — §§ 419-437

 

Session 2 | October 25th, 2024

VI. Spirit A. The true spirit, the ethical order (a.) — §§ 438-463

 

Session 3 | November 8th, 2024

VI. Spirit. A. The true spirit, the ethical order (b. and c.) — §§ 464-483

 

Session 4 | November 22nd, 2024

VI. Spirit. B. Self-alienated spirit: Culture (I.a.) — §§ 484-507

 

Session 5 | December 6th, 2024

VI. Spirit. B. Self-alienated spirit: Culture (I.a. and b.) — §§ 508-537

 

Session 6 | December 20th, 2024

VI. Spirit. B. Self-alienated spirit: Culture (II.a.) — §§ 538-573

 

Session 7 | February 7th, 2025

VI. Spirit. B. Self-alienated spirit: Culture (II.b. and III.) — §§ 574-595

 

Session 8 | February 28th, 2025

VI. Spirit. C. Spirit certain of itself: Morality (a.) — §§ 596-615

 

Session 9 | March 14th, 2025

VI. Spirit. C. Spirit certain of itself: Morality (b.) — §§ 616-631

 

Session 10 | March 28th, 2025

VI. Spirit. C. Spirit certain of itself: Morality (c.) — §§ 632-671

 

Session 11 | April 4th, 2025

VII. Religion. A. Natural religion — §§ 672-698

 

Session 12 | May 2nd, 2025

VII. Religion. B. Religion of art (a. and b.) — §§ 699-726

 

Session 13 | May 16th, 2025

VII. Religion. B. Religion of art (c.) — §§ 727-747

 

Session 14 | May 30th, 2025

VII. Religion. C. The revealed religion — §§ 748-787

 

Session 15 | June 13th, 2025

VIII. Absolute knowing — §§ 788-808