Simon Gros

The international philosophical conference Between Substance & Subject: The Presence of Spinoza in Hegel, held from 26 to 28 October 2023 at the University of Ljubljana’s Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film, and Television (AGRFT), served as a pivotal platform for scholarly discourse on the interrelations between the philosophies of Baruch Spinoza and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. This event was collaboratively organized by the University of Padua and the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Arts, under the auspices of the project Hegel’s Political Metaphysics (J6-2590), financed by the Slovenian Research Agency.

The conference’s thematic focus centered on Hegel’s critical engagement with Spinoza’s metaphysical concepts of substance and the absolute, which Hegel addresses in his Science of Logic. Spinoza’s philosophy, particularly his treatment of substance as a singular, self-sustaining entity, was viewed as a significant step in metaphysical thought, but Hegel critiqued its static nature. According to Hegel, while Spinoza’s identification of substance as absolute and unified is groundbreaking, it lacks the dynamic and dialectical development that Hegel sees as essential to a complete philosophical system. This lack of internal differentiation within Spinoza’s conception of substance left it conceptually inert and incapable of self-realization. Spinoza’s system presupposes certain attributes, such as thought and extension, without logically deriving them from substance. This leads to a rigid metaphysical framework where all modes and attributes return to the one absolute substance, but nothing emerges from it, leaving it undifferentiated and static. For Hegel, this failure to develop substance into a self-knowing, self-differentiating process diminishes its philosophical efficacy.

Hegel’s critique of Spinoza also targeted the method that Spinoza employed to construct his system. Spinoza’s reliance on axiomatic definitions, for Hegel, amounted to a form of dogmatism. He criticized Spinoza for assuming the truth of certain metaphysical propositions without offering a systematic justification for their necessity. Hegel contrasts this with his own approach, which begins with presuppositionless being and derives its concepts through a rigorous, dialectical process. For Hegel, philosophy must begin with an indeterminate starting point, from which the entire system must unfold, rather than relying on arbitrary presuppositions.

A crucial element of Hegel’s critique lies in Spinoza’s conception of negation. While Spinoza acknowledges the necessity of negation in the process of determination, Hegel contends that Spinoza fails to appreciate negation as a dialectical process—one that is self-negating and, through this, becomes affirmative. In Hegel’s view, negation is not merely the exclusion of the other, but an internal movement that generates affirmation through its self-subverting process. This dialectical movement, according to Hegel, is necessary for substance to develop dynamically and for reality to become self-conscious. Spinoza’s failure to incorporate this dialectical negation within his system renders his concept of substance insufficient for a complete metaphysical understanding.

Stephen Houlgate, a distinguished philosopher from the University of Warwick, delivered a keynote address at the conference, further expanding on these critical themes. Houlgate emphasized that engaging with Spinoza’s metaphysics was essential for any philosophical inquiry into substance and subjectivity. However, he also highlighted the need to transcend Spinoza’s framework in order to achieve a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of freedom, subjectivity, and self-consciousness. For Hegel, Spinoza’s metaphysical framework offered a foundational vision of unity, but it needed to undergo a dialectical elevation to account for the complexities of subjectivity, freedom, and self-realization.

The conference also featured a variety of presentations that explored various facets of Spinoza’s influence on Hegel’s thought. Diogo Ferrer delved into the ontological dimensions of Spinoza’s substance, analyzing how Hegel reinterprets it within his own system. Gilles Marmasse’s presentation examined the epistemological implications of Spinoza’s attributes, especially their transformation within Hegelian dialectics. Yitzhak Melamed’s research addressed the ethical ramifications of Spinoza’s philosophy and how Hegel engages with these ideas in his critique. Birgit Sandkaulen’s contribution focused on the political dimensions of Spinoza’s thought, analyzing its influence on Hegel’s concept of freedom.

The conference provided an invaluable forum for emerging scholars and doctoral candidates, offering them an opportunity to present their research and engage in a dynamic exchange of ideas. This inclusivity fostered a rich discussion of the historical and conceptual connections between Spinoza and Hegel, encouraging participants to critically assess and engage with the philosophical implications of their respective systems. It ensured that the multifaceted presence of Spinoza in Hegel’s philosophy was thoroughly explored, allowing for a deep and comprehensive engagement with their respective metaphysical and ethical frameworks.

The Between Substance & Subject conference not only underscored the enduring relevance of Spinoza’s philosophy in the development of Hegelian thought but also highlighted the necessity of a dialectical approach to metaphysics. By critically engaging with Spinoza’s concepts and transcending their limitations, Hegel advanced a philosophical framework that continues to influence contemporary discussions of substance, subjectivity, and freedom. This conference, through its interdisciplinary approach and inclusion of emerging scholars, affirmed the continued vitality of these philosophical discussions and their relevance to ongoing philosophical inquiry.