Hegel: Phenomenology and System

by H.S. Harris

A distillation of the author’s masterful Hegel’s Ladder , this lucid introduction to Hegel’s thought articulates the conceptual unity of the Phenomenology as well as the structure of Hegel’s system and the place of the Phenomenology within it.

Genres: Philosophy

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Nathan "N.R." Gaddis]

Portrait of an Hegelian as a Retiree --
Photo taken by Diego Negri on the occasion of the 70th birthday of H.S. Harris and following his last class as a teacher at Glendon College, Toronto on 11 April 1996.
http://yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/xml...


H.S. Harris may be the greatest anglophone Hegel scholar of all time. The evidence is found first in his 1567 page Hegel’s Ladder, a thorough and exhaustive commentary on Hegel’s first major book. This famous commentary is preceded by the two volumes of Hegel’s Development. I’m still waiting for the intellectual biography which takes us from post-Phenomenology to the revision of the Logic.

This little flap of 118 pages is described as a “distillation” of Harris’s Hegel’s Ladder. I’d estimate it at around 180 proof. The other metaphor is that it provides a ‘bird’s eye view’ of the Phenomenology -- at approximately 35,000 feet.

Either way, it’s a handy companion and should be read twice. First as a breeze across the mountain peaks, gaining access to a very coarse map of the argumentation of the Phenomenology. In this purpose it will likely confuse the virgin phenomenologist as much as enlighten. But then second, it should be held at the ready as a series of snap-shots to help orient oneself within each of the sections of the Phenomenology itself. It won’t solve anything at the sentence and paragraph level, and it is no substitute for Harris’s expanded commentary, but one doesn’t always need molecular maps when all one wants to do is stroll from one side of the valley to the other, for which a sketch on the back of an envelop will do.

In other words, this little Harris pamphlet was sketched on the back of an envelop over lunch with a good friend who wanted a general characterization of the course of Hegel’s argument about the science of experience.

Oh, right -- most of the book is immediately about the Phenomenology. A concluding chapter provides a (very) brief discussion of the relationship between the Phenomenology and the system proper (Logic plus Real Philosophy (Nature and Spirit)). Also, a few comments about the eternal question, What is alive and what is dead in Hegel?

[Lee Downen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fine distillation of Hegel's Phenomenology. However, I would not recommend reading it until after one has read Hegel. It is too terse and presumes too much to be very helpful for true neophytes. In one place, Harris writes,

This is one point in the argument at which the reader can be told to study the background history of German idealism and to read the rest of Hegel's book (and of this book) before coming back to Hegel's discussion at this point and trying again to see if things have improved. (p. 49)

You don't understand how "Self-Consciousness moves from the objective Vorstellung of itself to the pure thought of itself"? Well, try reading a book, chump. Not this one but rather one by Kant, Fichte, or Schelling.

I don't mean to be unfair, though. Harris is frank about the difficulties of reading Hegel and he is undoubtedly right. Moreover, this little volume is the clearest work I've read on Hegel—by a long shot. I am simply recommending that first-time readers of the Phenomenology begin with another guide (such as Stern or Kalkavage), and then read this book immediately after finishing Hegel in order to understand what they just read.

[Bohemian Bluestocking · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate this book. Apparently I read most of it two semesters ago when I was taking a class on Hegel at UCCS. I am now preparing for a lecture on Hegel (tomorrow!), so I read the last two chapters. I would say that it will be most valuable after you have actually completed PoS, so maybe save it for after. I kind of read them concurrently. Read lots of Hegel. Then start on the commentary/summaries, etc. It doesn't make sense maybe, but trust.

[Jassim Ahmed · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad. A good philosopher tries his best to explain his ideas and especially others with clear words.

This book discusses without explanation. Perhaps suitable for a Hegel scholar but then why would he read this book.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, slim little book that's worth finding a spot on your shelf for. I suspect I will completely destroy my copy through over-use.