Rough Theory

Hegel Summer Reading Groups

For two summers, the reading group focussed on Hegel, reading Phenomenology of Spirit in 2007, and Science of Logic in 2008. The online posts associated with the reading group do not cover the text comprehensively, but instead focus on the interests and concerns of the people writing the post. The Science of Logic group also attracted a number of posts from other blogs, and the lists below therefore capture contributions from all the participating blogs. Note that blog posts on Hegel that are not related to the reading group discussion are not listed here.

Jump to List of Entries on:

Science of Logic

Phenomenology of Spirit

Science of Logic

Joining the Fray:

The discussion on Science of Logic is still ongoing. Anyone reading on who would like to contribute some material to the online discussion, but who would like a bit of background on the reading group first, can find some here and here. Note that, for whatever reason, I’m not finding pingbacks all that reliable lately, so, if you do write something, and I don’t pick up on it here, please email me to let me know.

Online texts of Science of Logic can be found:

In English: from MIA

In German: from Project Gutenberg

Posts so far in the online discussion:

Overviews and Introductions

Logic Sketch, Monagyric, Tom Bunyard – a follow-up discussion on Tom’s post can be found at Rough Theory

The ‘Ontologisation of the Ontical’ – Hegel’s ‘Sleight of Hand’ at the Opening of the Logic, Monagyric, Tom Bunyard – discusses Adorno’s Negative Dialectics, Plato’s Parmenides, and the opening to the Logic – arguing that Adorno might have misrepresented what Hegel is attempting to achieve, and threading a different path through Hegel’s opening gambit

Prefaces

What in the hell… is the spirit of practicality?, what in the hell…, Nate, on the first Preface

What in the hell… happens next?!, what in the hell…, Nate, on the second Preface

Opening Discussions, Rough Theory, N. Pepperell, on the first Preface and a fragment of the Second (Note that I’ve reprised some of this material in the conference paper here – the paper covers a lot of ground on Marx and also on Hegel’s Phenomenology, but ties the comments on the Prefaces I make in the original posts, together with a more extensive commentary on Hegel’s method.)

Preparing for Being, Now-Times, Alexei, commentary on the other contributions on the first Preface

Masters and Slaves, Now-Times, Alexei, commentary on the second Preface, with reference to the issue of emancipatory possibilities

Transformative Negativity, against the Abstract Ought, Now-Times, Alexei, continuation of post above, with specific reference to the ethical import of Hegel’s approach, and with comparisons between Phenomenology and Logic

Introduction

Hegel’s Science of Logic: Introduction, Perverse Egalitarianism, Mikhail Emelianov

Introduction (Some More Random Observations), Perverse Egalitarianism, Mikhail Emelianov

Being

With What Must the New Year Begin? – Rough Theory, N. Pepperell, on “With What Must the Science Begin” (Note that I’ve reprised this material in the conference paper here – the paper covers a lot of ground on Marx and also on Hegel’s Phenomenology, but the section on the method of the Logic is more accurate and complete than the material in the original post from which it was redrafted.)

Concretion and Appearance, Now-Times, Alexei, reflections on the relationship between appearance and Concept, spanning Phenomenology and Logic

Let It Be, Rough Theory, N. Pepperell, reflection on one aspect of the discussion of the “Concretion and Appearance” discussion at Now-Times

Not Adding Up, Rough Theory, N. Pepperell, reflection on the remark on “The Kantian Antinomy of the Indivisibility and the Infinite Divisibility of Time, Space and Matter” from the section on Pure Quantity

Mini-Posts and Tangents

The Most Stubborn Error, Rough Theory, N. Pepperell, comment on par. 356, on approaches that regard their own essence as a negation

From Something, Nothing Comes, Rough Theory, N. Pepperell, comment on par. 130-131, on the way in which indeterminacy can be a form of determinacy

Background and General Comments

Online Resources on Hegel – English, Now-Times, Alexei

Online Resources on Hegel – German, Now-Times, Alexei

The Comfort of Determinism – Perverse Egalitarianism, Mikhail Emelianov, reflections on Kant, Leibniz and Hegel’s desire to erase the distinction between form and content

Phenomenology of Spirit

Holding Our Thought in Time (notes on the Preface)

The Slow Hegelians (notes on the Introduction)

L Magee on “Lordship and Bondage”

Two Wrongs? Or the Opposite of an Opposite? (my reply to L Magee’s “Lordship and Bondage”)

Much Ado About Nothing (a fragment on Hegel’s concept of determinate negation)

Hegelian Fog (some notes on how starting points are immanently and reflexively “grounded” in this work, and on a few other aspects of methodology)

Abstract Gestures (on Sense-Certainty)

Perception

The Man Behind the Curtain (on Force and Understanding – part 1)

Full of Stars (on Force and Understanding – part 2)

Reading group trivia and jokes around Hegel (warning: nothing of substance here – I’m serious about this – nothing of substance… Hmmm…):

Hegel on the Beach (initial plans for last year’s Hegel summer reading)

This Is Not a Post (or: what happens when I read Hegel in coffee shops, part 1)

Sensual Uncertainty (or: what happens when I read Hegel in coffee shops, part 2 – related somewhat to Veni… Veni…, which explains why no one would find my marginal notes on Phenomenology of Spirit useful)

Coffee and Spirit (or: what happens when I read Hegel in coffee shops, part 3)

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc (a case study in how easy it is to tempt me to blog on something)

Hegel and Marks (okay, maybe a little substance here – a few notes on immanent critique, but mostly a joke with LM)

Reading Group: the Gathering (on what really goes on in these reading group meetings)

Hegelian Poker (more on what really goes on in these reading group meetings, although the connection to Hegel is a bit tenuous, really…)

Unimpressed (on why at least one person thinks we shouldn’t have held this reading group at al