This volume presents G. W. F. Hegel’s Encyclopedia of the Philosophical Sciences in Outline (1827), a foundational work that captures Hegel’s comprehensive system of philosophy, divided into three main parts: Logic, Philosophy of Nature, and Philosophy of Spirit.
The Encyclopedia begins with Hegel’s prefaces to both the first and second editions, followed by a detailed introduction and an outline of the work. The first part, The Science of Logic, explores the dialectical process of thought through the categories of Being, Essence, and the Concept, illustrating Hegel’s method of unfolding the logical structure of reality.
The second part, Philosophy of Nature, covers Hegel’s systematic treatment of the natural world, starting with mechanics and moving through physics and organic life. It outlines nature’s development through various stages, from pure mechanics to the intricate workings of organic systems, including geology, plants, and animals.
The third part, Philosophy of Spirit, addresses the nature of consciousness and human spirit, beginning with subjective experience (anthropology and psychology), advancing to objective spirit (ethics, law, and the state), and concluding with the absolute spirit, which integrates art, religion, and philosophy into the highest form of human self-realization.
The volume also includes supplementary materials such as notes on the Logic and Metaphysics lectures, reports on lost manuscripts, and various appendices with signs, symbols, and an index of persons, providing essential tools for understanding Hegel’s dense and profound philosophical system.
This critical edition of the Encyclopedia offers readers a thorough insight into one of the most influential works in Western philosophy, showcasing Hegel’s profound vision of reality and the development of human thought.
Simon Gros 
Leave a comment