This paper considers whether Hegel's master/slave dialectic in the Phenomenology of Spirit should be considered as a refutation of solipsism. It focuses on a recent and detailed attempt to argue for this sort of reading that has been proposed by Frederick Beiser ? but it argues that this reading is unconvincing, both in the historical motivations given for it in the work of Jacobi and Fichte, and as an interpretation of the text itself. An alternative reading of the dialectic is (...) proposed, where it is argued that the central problem Hegel is concerned with is not solipsism, but the sociality of freedom. (shrink)

This paper focuses on one of C. S. Peirce's criticisms of G. W. F. Hegel: namely, that Hegel neglected to give sufficient weight to what Peirce calls "Secondness", in a way that put his philosophical system out of touch with reality. The nature of this criticism is explored, together with its relevant philosophical background. It is argued that while the issues Peirce raises go deep, in some respects Hegel's position is closer to his own than he may have realised, whilst (...) in others that criticism can be resisted by the Hegelian. (shrink)

The contribution of Sense-Certainty to the entire program of the Phenomenology of Spirit is in the proof of the inevitability of making differences. In the Introduction, the distinction between consciousness and object was presented, which justification and self-reflexive structure has to be developed in the course of the Phenomenology of Spirit. The first, elementary step is realized in the Sense-Certainty that – under the programmatic formula of “immediacy” – claims to dissolve the distinction between consciousness and object and even, more (...) generally, the very structure of distinction itself. It will be shown in what way this claim cannot be fulfilled. On the contrary, distinctions that male a difference – those, that separate the distinguished sides from one another – turn out to be inevitable. (shrink)

L’apport de la Certitude Sensible à l’ensemble du programme de Phénoménologie de l’Esprit est constitué par la preuve de l’inévitabilité de distinguer. L’Introduction présente la distinction entre conscience et l’objet , dont la légitimité et la structure auto-réflexive se déroulent par l’éxécution de Phénoménologie de l’Esprit. Le premier pas, qui est élémentaire, se réalise dans la Certitude Sensible. Suivant la formule programmatique du « immediat » la Certitude Sensible exige la dissolution de le distinction entre conscience et objet et même (...) de la structure de distinction soi-même. Il est montré pourquoi cette exigence ne peut pas être satisfait. Au contraire, les distinctions qui font une différencecelles qui séparent deux côtés différentes l’un de l’autre – sont inevitables. (shrink)