This volume Jena System Drafts I: The System of Speculative Philosophy. Fragments from Lecture Manuscripts on the Philosophy of Nature and Spirit presents a pivotal exploration of Hegel’s System of Speculative Philosophy, tracing the foundational concepts of his broader philosophical system. It begins with the transition from celestial to earthly systems in Hegel’s metaphysical framework and progresses through the mechanistic view of nature to chemistry and physics. The volume then shifts to Hegel’s treatment of the organic world, culminating in the philosophy of spirit.
The work presents the evolution of Hegel’s thought, starting with his consideration of the basic principles of mechanics, then exploring the dynamics of chemistry, and eventually leading to the organic and mental spheres. As Hegel proceeds from the idea of earth as a substantial element to the metaphysical implications of organic life, his philosophy unfolds with increasing complexity. The later sections address the development of human consciousness, spirit, and self-awareness, as well as the role of potency in the realization of spirit through possession, family, and community.
The appendices contain significant fragments, outlining notes on the system’s development and concluding with the potential and limitations of Hegel’s views on the state, family, and self-consciousness.
The drafts of the entire system of Hegel’s philosophy created during the Jena period have only survived fragmentarily, but they provide important insights into the genetic development of the – repeatedly modified – architecture of the foundation of the later completed work. The fragments of Hegel’s handwritten drafts included in this volume relate to specific parts or sections of the system and are part of the preparation for the lecture The System of Speculative Philosophy, which Hegel delivered during the winter semester of 1803/1804 in Jena.
This work is an essential part of understanding the structure of Hegel’s philosophy, particularly for scholars interested in the intersection of metaphysics, natural philosophy, and the philosophy of spirit.
Simon Gros 
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