Subjective Mind & Nature (original) (raw)

In this analysis, I will describe the structure of Subjective Spirit in order to gain insight in the dialectical system of immersion and opposition that is considered as essential to understanding Hegel’s point of departure to understand the realm of Geist. Throughout this paper, the concepts of body and soul – and corporeity and Spirit for that matter – are conceptualised as two concepts for the sake of language differentiation. This does not imply however that they exclude each other per definition, as they imply one another in Hegel’s systematics. This position is a result of the development of the immediate relation and unity between Spirit and Nature. It is imperative to keep this in mind, as it constitutes the core to Hegel’s project in the Encyclopaedia, and in the section of Philosophy of Mind. The position Hegel develops is that the immediate unity of Spirit and Nature is made explicit, in order to reach a position wherein they are implicitly united. Specifically, this essay will be subdivided in the three dialectical parts that Hegel poses in his Philosophy of Mind to do justice to each section, and in order to see how each stage may allow for Nature to subdue in Spirit. It will provide an in-depth closed-reading of Anthropology and Phenomenology of Mind, and a short insight on Psychology. This is because the former two present a more accurate foundation on the relationship and contradictions present in Hegel’s system with regards to how Nature is involved in the realm of Mind. The latter is a dialectical union of the former two, and will thus be analysed more holistically. Finally, in the conclusion the main points will be gathered in order to portray the embeddedness of natural conditions in Hegel’s formulation of Subjective Spirit.