Abstract

In this review, I evaluate Pirmin Stekeler-Weithofer's 1070-page dialogical commentary on Hegel's Encyclopaedia of Philosophical Sciences. The book demonstrates both strengths and limitations in attempting to balance faithful interpretation with critical engagement. While Stekeler offers valuable insights, particularly in his analysis of contingency and the philosophy of subjective spirit, his deflationary approach sometimes understates the metaphysical aspects of Hegel's thought. This is especially evident in his interpretation of spirit as the 'truth of nature' and his reading of absolute spirit. Despite these criticisms, the commentary serves as a rich resource of intertextual references and philosophical analysis that advances our understanding of Hegel's mature system.