In the Spirit of Hegel [Hardcover]

Robert C. Solomon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195031695 | ISBN-13: 978-0195031690 | Publication Date: August 25, 1983 | Edition: First Edition

The Phenomenology of Spirit was Hegel's grandest experiement, 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 as well as 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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Solomon presents the Phenomenology as a thoroughly personal as well as philosophical work, evoking its spirit and excitement as well as exploring its provocative ideas."--Daedalus Books

"[A] brilliant combination of scholarly stage setting, close reading, and vivid explication....Solomon's strong voice serves both to communicate with the contemporary reader and evoke the strength of mind in Hegel's text....This book will undoubtedly be the most recommended companion to Hegel's Phenomenology for generations of students."--James Ogilvy, SRI International

"I have no doubt that this is the best commentary on the Phenomenology of Spirit in English."--Anthony Manser, Times Higher Education Supplement

"No English Language book gives as many--and as interesting--pointers to and prerequisites for the Hegel reader as does this one...Ssolomon is almost always engaging and frequently sparkles with wit."--Gary Shariro, University of Kansas

"An excellent historical introduction."--Choice

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Robert C. Solomon is at University of Texas at Austin. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 668 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; First Edition edition (August 25, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195031695
• ISBN-13: 978-0195031690
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,233,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

G. Lee Bowie received a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Stanford University and has taught at University of Michigan, University of Mass, Amherst College, and Hampshire College. Currently he is Professor of Philosophy at Mount Holyoke College. Meredith W. Michaels received a Ph.D. in philosophy (with Clancy Martin), ETHICS AND EXCELLENCE, THE JOY OF PHILOSOPHY, and TRUE TO OUR FEELINGS, and he was co-editor of TWENTY QUESTIONS, Fifth Edition (with Lee Bowie and Meredith Michaels), and SINCE SOCRATES (with Clancy Martin).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most lucid presentation of Hegel available, September 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: In the Spirit of Hegel (Paperback)

This is the best single volume on Hegel available. In plain, and often sparkling, English, it does a wonderful job of explicating this tremendously difficult thinker. It also provides a convincing argument that Hegel is not merely a historical curiosity but a very contemporary thinker. It includes a valuable intellectual historical summary that places Hegel within the literary, philosophical, and political thought of his day, a remarkably lucid glossary that translates Hegel's notoriously difficult terminology into plain English, and a fabulous chapter-by-chapter explication of what is arguably Hegel's most important work, The Phenomenology of Spirit.

4.0 out of 5 stars nice work on realm of spirit, April 3, 2011

By 

barryb - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In the Spirit of Hegel (Hardcover)

The 1983 publication date made me think this would be obsolete. But it had been given so much praise, I had to get it. Solomon takes hegel as fundamentally an ethicist(*which I agree with), in response to kant's ethics. I thought his discussion of the realm of spirit was superb. Grad, level; not post-grad. I'm glad I got it.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, a dialectic of its own, January 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: In the Spirit of Hegel (Paperback)

Solomon gives a lucid and clear picture of Hegel's ambitions in his Phenomenology. For ever obtuse, dense, snide paragraph Hegel wrote, Solomon delivers clear, intelligent, and at times funny explanations of Hegel's motivations and plans. An essential companion when burrowing through Hegel's magnum opus.