Jim Vernon
jvernon@yorku.ca

Hegel’s philosophical system is the arguably most ambitious in the Western canon. From the most basic categories of thought, experience, and being, he sought to deduce the precise structures of human cognition, history, and duty as well as nature, religion, art, and virtually every other topic of interest to philosophers. So successful was his attempt that, for a brief period at least, many considered philosophy’s work to be done. It is not an accident, then, that so many philosophers have since devoted their energies to either disproving, discrediting, or steadfastly ignoring his works.

This course is an intensive study of (much of) Hegel’s ‘preface’ to his system, the Phenomenology of Spirit. Class time will be split between close analysis of the text and more general discussion of the philosophical import of Hegel’s ideas. Our focus will be on the nature of the individual ego and its relation to its world and others. Topics covered will include perception, consciousness, inter-subjectivity, ethical/communal life, morality and freedom. Our objective will be not only to grasp Hegel’s philosophy itself, but to judge the adequacy of Hegelian concepts and method for resolving the problems of contemporary philosophy and society.

Important Note/Warning on Text/Course

While such judgments are always in part subjective, this course covers perhaps the most notoriously difficult thinker in the Western philosophical canon. Hegel’s thought, and mode of presentation, are both radically unique and as a result this course is arguably among the most demanding that our department offers. Reading and thinking through Hegel requires a radical suspension of one’s own philosophical intuitions not only about the content of philosophy, but about the form of argument for it. This text combines phenomenological, historical and conceptual analyses in a singular manner, and it will often take us several weeks to get to Hegel’s actual thesis regarding a particular topic. As such, Hegel’s text is infamously, exceedingly difficult, and thus the schedule of readings may change in accordance with class discussion, etc. and should be treated as a more or less accurate guide, not as a rigid time schedule. Put bluntly, these are readings you will need to do at least twice, and both attendance and active involvement in class are absolutely essential to succeeding in the course. I highly recommend that you and your fellow students form study groups to discuss on their own (philosophy is always better when studied this way), and consult me in office hours and on email whenever you have concerns or questions throughout the course.

Technical requirements for taking the course: The course will run synchronously on Zoom, so you will need a reliable internet connection to participate in the course.

Here are some useful links for student computing information, resources and help:

Student Guide to Moodle

Zoom@YorkU Best Practices 

Zoom@YorkU User Reference Guide

Computing for Students Website

Student Guide to eLearning at York University

To determine Internet connection and speed, there are online tests, such as Speedtest, that can be run.]

Times and locations: [Clearly communicate to students that this is a course that will be remotely delivered, be an online course, etc.. Suggested language is provided in blue font.] Please note that this is a course that depends on remote teaching and learning. There will be no in-person interactions or activities on campus.

Virtual office hours: TBA

Required Course Text / Readings: G.W.F. Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, trans. A.V. Miller (Oxford: Clarendon Press).

Do not use alternate editions!!!

Mid-Term 25% or 20%

Term Paper 35% or 40%

Take-Home Final ‘Exam’ 40%

The highest grade out of the first two assignments will automatically be weighted at 5% more, as indicated in the amounts above.

Lecture/Reading Schedule:

Tues. Jan. 12^th

Introductory lecture on Hegel’s method (optional reading: §73-89)

Tues. Jan. 19^th

Consciousness; ‘Sense-Certainty’ (§90-110)

Tues. Jan. 26^th

Consciousness; ‘Perception’ (§111-131)

Tues. Feb 2^nd

Consciousness; ‘Force and the Understanding’ (§132-148)

Tues. Feb. 9^th

Consciousness; ‘Force and the Understanding’, cont. (§149-165);

Tues. Feb. 16^th

No Class (‘Reading’ week)

Essay Questions posted!

Tues. Feb. 23^rd

Review of consciousness; transition to Self-Consciousness

Tues. Feb. 25^th

Self-Consciousness; ‘Lordship and Bondage’ (§166-196)

Tues. Mar. 2^nd

Self-Consciousness; ‘Freedom of Self-Consciousness’ (§197-230)

Tues. Mar. 9^th

Spirit; ‘The Ethical Order’ (§438-463)

Tues. Mar. 167^th

Spirit; ‘The Ethical Order’; cont. (§464-486)

Tues. Mar. 23^rd

Spirit; ‘Morality’; (§597-631)

Essays Due on turnitin.com!!!!

Tues. Mar. 30^th

Spirit; ‘The Beautiful Soul’ (§632-671)

Take-Home Final Exam posted

Tues. Apr. 6^th

Take-Home Final Exam due on turnitin.com

To understand and critical appraise Hegel’s early accounts of epistemology, freedom, and moral life.