This volume of Gesammelte Werke focuses on a variety of Hegel’s early writings, both published and unpublished, spanning across his intellectual development from 1799 to 1808. It includes printed works, manuscripts, and secondary transmissions that shed light on his evolving philosophical views.
Printed Works:
- Hegel’s engagement with Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi’s philosophical writings, which were critical of Enlightenment rationalism, is examined in Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi’s Werke.
- A key political text from Hegel’s early years is Verhandlungen in der Versammlung des Landstände, which reflects his thoughts on the political climate in Germany.
- The Vorwort zu: H. F. W. Hinrichs: Die Religion is a preface to Hinrichs’ work, offering insights into Hegel’s views on religion during this period.
Manuscripts:
- The volume contains two significant drafts on the idea of establishing a critical literary journal, which illustrates Hegel’s early thoughts on the intellectual role of journals in shaping public discourse.
- There is a fragment on Von Kügelgens Bilder, reflecting Hegel’s engagement with art and its philosophical implications.
- A manuscript on the Philosophy of Subjective Spirit gives a glimpse into Hegel’s emerging ideas on consciousness and individual subjectivity.
Secondary Transmissions:
- Notes on Creuzer’s Proclus-Edition reveal Hegel’s interest in ancient philosophy, particularly Neoplatonism, and its relevance to modern thought.
- Two essays on color theory and a fragment on philosophy deepen the reader’s understanding of Hegel’s engagement with science and metaphysics in his early academic years.
The appendix provides helpful editorial aids, including a detailed account of the signs, abbreviations, and symbols used throughout the text. The editorial report and the index of persons further clarify Hegel’s intellectual context during this phase of his career.
This volume is crucial for understanding the evolution of Hegel’s philosophy, particularly his engagement with political, religious, and artistic thought, as well as his approach to philosophy as a systematic discipline.
Simon Gros 
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