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In the Spirit of Hegel
The Phenomenology of Spirit was Hegel's grandest experiment, changing our vision of the world and the very nature of philosophical enterprise. In this book, Solomon captures the bold and exhilarating spirit, presenting the Phenomenology as a thoroughly personal as well as philosophical work. He begins with a historical introduction, which lays the groundwork for a section-by-section analysis of the Phenomenology . Both the initiated and readers unacquainted with the intricacies of German idealism will find this to be an accessible and exciting introduction to this great philosopher's monumental work.
668 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
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About the author
Robert C. Solomon
124 books172 followersRobert C. Solomon (September 14, 1942 – January 2, 2007) was a professor of continental philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin.
Early life
Solomon was born in Detroit, Michigan. His father was a lawyer, and his mother an artist. After earning a B.A. (1963) at the University of Pennsylvania, he moved to the University of Michigan to study medicine, switching to philosophy for an M.A. (1965) and Ph.D. (1967).
He held several teaching positions at such schools as Princeton University, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Pittsburgh. From 1972 until his death, except for two years at the University of California at Riverside in the mid-1980s, he taught at University of Texas at Austin, serving as Quincy Lee Centennial Professor of Philosophy and Business. He was a member of the University of Texas Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Solomon was also a member of the inaugural class of Academic Advisors at the Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics.
His interests were in 19th-century German philosophy--especially Hegel and Nietzsche--and 20th-century Continental philosophy--especially Sartre and phenomenology, as well as ethics and the philosophy of emotions. Solomon published more than 40 books on philosophy, and was also a published songwriter. He made a cameo appearance in Richard Linklater's film Waking Life (2001), where he discussed the continuing relevance of existentialism in a postmodern world. He developed a cognitivist theory of the emotions, according to which emotions, like beliefs, were susceptible to rational appraisal and revision. Solomon was particularly interested in the idea of "love," arguing against the notion that romantic love is an inherent state of being, and maintaining, instead, that it is instead a construct of Western culture, popularized and propagated in such a way that it has achieved the status of a universal in the eyes of many. Love for Solomon is not a universal, static quality, but an emotion, subject to the same vicissitudes as other emotions like anger or sadness.
Solomon received numerous teaching awards at the University of Texas at Austin, and was a frequent lecturer in the highly regarded Plan II Honors Program. Solomon was known for his lectures on Nietzsche and other Existentialist philosophers. Solomon described in one lecture a very personal experience he had while a medical student at the University of Michigan. He recounted how he stumbled as if by chance into a crowded lecture hall. He was rather unhappy in his medical studies at the time, and was perhaps seeking something different that day. He got precisely that. The professor, Frithjof Bergmann, was lecturing that day on something that Solomon had not yet been acquainted with. The professor spoke of how Nietzsche's idea asks the fundamental question: "If given the opportunity to live your life over and over again ad infinitum, forced to go through all of the pain and the grief of existence, would you be overcome with despair? Or would you fall to your knees in gratitude?"
Solomon died on January 2, 2007 at Zurich airport. His wife, philosopher Kathleen Higgins, with whom he co-authored several of his books, is Professor of Philosophy at University of Texas at Austin.
Early life
Solomon was born in Detroit, Michigan. His father was a lawyer, and his mother an artist. After earning a B.A. (1963) at the University of Pennsylvania, he moved to the University of Michigan to study medicine, switching to philosophy for an M.A. (1965) and Ph.D. (1967).
He held several teaching positions at such schools as Princeton University, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Pittsburgh. From 1972 until his death, except for two years at the University of California at Riverside in the mid-1980s, he taught at University of Texas at Austin, serving as Quincy Lee Centennial Professor of Philosophy and Business. He was a member of the University of Texas Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Solomon was also a member of the inaugural class of Academic Advisors at the Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics.
His interests were in 19th-century German philosophy--especially Hegel and Nietzsche--and 20th-century Continental philosophy--especially Sartre and phenomenology, as well as ethics and the philosophy of emotions. Solomon published more than 40 books on philosophy, and was also a published songwriter. He made a cameo appearance in Richard Linklater's film Waking Life (2001), where he discussed the continuing relevance of existentialism in a postmodern world. He developed a cognitivist theory of the emotions, according to which emotions, like beliefs, were susceptible to rational appraisal and revision. Solomon was particularly interested in the idea of "love," arguing against the notion that romantic love is an inherent state of being, and maintaining, instead, that it is instead a construct of Western culture, popularized and propagated in such a way that it has achieved the status of a universal in the eyes of many. Love for Solomon is not a universal, static quality, but an emotion, subject to the same vicissitudes as other emotions like anger or sadness.
Solomon received numerous teaching awards at the University of Texas at Austin, and was a frequent lecturer in the highly regarded Plan II Honors Program. Solomon was known for his lectures on Nietzsche and other Existentialist philosophers. Solomon described in one lecture a very personal experience he had while a medical student at the University of Michigan. He recounted how he stumbled as if by chance into a crowded lecture hall. He was rather unhappy in his medical studies at the time, and was perhaps seeking something different that day. He got precisely that. The professor, Frithjof Bergmann, was lecturing that day on something that Solomon had not yet been acquainted with. The professor spoke of how Nietzsche's idea asks the fundamental question: "If given the opportunity to live your life over and over again ad infinitum, forced to go through all of the pain and the grief of existence, would you be overcome with despair? Or would you fall to your knees in gratitude?"
Solomon died on January 2, 2007 at Zurich airport. His wife, philosopher Kathleen Higgins, with whom he co-authored several of his books, is Professor of Philosophy at University of Texas at Austin.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 23, 2013
Two steps closer to understanding...
April 9, 2017
I recently went through this book a second time. To be clear: this is a supplementary text to be read along side Hegel's "Phenomenology of Spirit". It's worth going over probably half as many times as Phen. of Spirit mind you, and only for practicality purposes. Solomon is an interesting commentator on Hegel's seminal work - in part due to his affinity for Nietzsche, but also because he attempts to clarify a number structural mishaps one is likely to stumble upon without even realizing it whilst reading Phen. of Spirit. I'm hesitant to say this is the "best" companion to Hegel's book - rather I'd say it is beneficial to keep around if you don't plan on reading another piece of Hegel's work but still want to get the gist of his argument. The sections on Rousseau are critical, and his breakdown of the chapter arrangement and key philosophical terms is very helpful either (a) in case you don't like Hegel's writing or (b) you - like everyone else - find Hegel's deployment of specific terms to be haphazard at best in certain places. In fact I'll be the first to admit that of all the pages I have dog-eared in this book the "glossary of terms" section has been the one I have re-read the most.
One possible benefit of this book might be that it works outside of a classroom setting. This isn't to say that Hegel is easily read in the absence of someone who studies him as part of their profession - the academic or what have you. But what this book allows for is those with no philosophical training to, perhaps, begin to venture into the bizarre, prolix, multifaceted, and utterly brilliant writing of Hegel without the backdrop of a scholarly institution. On the opposite side, the instructor might find this book useful as it affords them a degree of flexibility when explaining certain concepts within Hegel. Solomon's approach is compelling but far from definitive; the result is a helpful structural, auxiliary text that provides a clear baseline from which one can begin a more rigorous critique or praise of Phen. of Spirit.
The last few chapters of the book and Solomon's view of Christianity are curious. Not necessarily bad by any means, but maybe not what one is looking for in their reading of Hegel (unless they plan on following it up with readings from the religiously minded "Young Hegelians"). Regardless of this, however, the book is worth reading; certainly if one is struggling and/or irritated by Phen. of Spirit.
One possible benefit of this book might be that it works outside of a classroom setting. This isn't to say that Hegel is easily read in the absence of someone who studies him as part of their profession - the academic or what have you. But what this book allows for is those with no philosophical training to, perhaps, begin to venture into the bizarre, prolix, multifaceted, and utterly brilliant writing of Hegel without the backdrop of a scholarly institution. On the opposite side, the instructor might find this book useful as it affords them a degree of flexibility when explaining certain concepts within Hegel. Solomon's approach is compelling but far from definitive; the result is a helpful structural, auxiliary text that provides a clear baseline from which one can begin a more rigorous critique or praise of Phen. of Spirit.
The last few chapters of the book and Solomon's view of Christianity are curious. Not necessarily bad by any means, but maybe not what one is looking for in their reading of Hegel (unless they plan on following it up with readings from the religiously minded "Young Hegelians"). Regardless of this, however, the book is worth reading; certainly if one is struggling and/or irritated by Phen. of Spirit.
October 24, 2025
If I had to recommend just one commentary on Hegel's Phenomenology, it would be this one. Not because it is the most profound or the most innovative, but simply because it's really, really readable (a breath of fresh air when it comes to Hegel studies), and because it also provides a great overview of all the debates at the time, from Kant to the young Hegel, and even a bit of history (from the French Revolution to Napoleon). Of course, Solomon has a very existentialist reading of Hegel, seeing him as a precursor to Nietzsche, and of course, explains away Hegel's philosophy of religion as an attempt to save his face professionally, and avoiding the fate of Fichte (who lost his professorship due to charges of atheism). I think there is some need to emphasise Hegel's idealism in contrast to Solomon, to get a more accurate assessment of the picture.
January 6, 2020
Simply stated - a must read.
December 29, 2017
superb book so well written and able to bring Hegel's philosophy to life, a good work too in covering the span of different interpretations of Hegel
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews