Contradiction Resolves Itself: An Analysis of the Arguments in the Chapter ‘The Essentialities or the Determinations of Reflection’ in Hegel’s Doctrine of Essence by Folko Zander is an analysis of one of the most challenging and pivotal aspects of Hegelian philosophy: the concept of contradiction. Zander, a distinguished scholar in Classical German Philosophy with doctorates earned in 2009 and 2018 from the Friedrich-Schiller University in Jena, makes an exacting exposition that presents the heart of Hegel’s Logic, arguing that the treatment of contradiction is not only central to understanding Hegel’s work but is also crucial for the advancement of philosophy itself.
Hegel’s departure from traditional logic, particularly in his scandalous embrace of contradiction, has long been a contentious point among scholars and philosophers. Zander confronts this controversy head-on, seeking to unravel what Hegel truly means by contradiction and how this seemingly paradoxical concept can be rendered serviceable for philosophical inquiry. The book is not merely a commentary but an intensive presentation of the arguments made in the specific section of Hegel’s “Doctrine of Essence,” focusing on the determinations of reflection, which Hegel himself considered the most challenging part of his Logic.
Zander begins by contextualizing the significance of contradiction in Hegel’s philosophy, noting that for Hegel, contradiction is not a peripheral concern but permeates his entire body of work from his earliest to his final publications. He references Hegel’s bold thesis from his habilitation dissertation, Contradictio est regula veri, non falsi, highlighting the philosopher’s unwavering commitment to this idea. This sets the stage for Zander’s central thesis: understanding Hegel’s concept of contradiction is essential for grasping the entirety of his philosophical system.
The book examines the traditional principle of non-contradiction, as established by Aristotle, which posits that “it is impossible for anything at the same time to be and not to be.” Zander acknowledges the historical reverence for this principle, which has been considered the bedrock of logical reasoning and discursive rationality. He also notes the practical and ethical value attributed to the avoidance of contradictions, as it is deemed the “only weapon against fallacy and lie.” Yet, Hegel challenges this foundational principle, asserting the positive role of contradiction in the development of thought and reality.
Zander explores the implications of accepting contradiction within a philosophical system. He addresses the logical law “ex contradictione quodlibet sequitur,” which states that from a contradiction, any proposition can be inferred, potentially rendering a system trivial if contradictions are tolerated without restraint. He scrutinizes Hegel’s approach to ensure that his system does not collapse into triviality, carefully analyzing how Hegel navigates the dangers of inconsistency while maintaining the generative power of contradiction.
The author engages with contemporary critiques and interpretations, including the perspectives of paraconsistent logicians who advocate for logics that can handle contradictions constructively. He examines claims that Hegel is a precursor to such approaches, as well as the utilization of Hegel’s ideas by dialectical materialists like Marx, who saw in Hegel’s concept of contradiction the “source of all dialectic” and sought to apply it to the analysis of social and economic processes.
Zander emphasizes the scarcity of detailed studies on this critical aspect of Hegel’s Logic, noting that while scholars like Michael Wolff and Christian Iber have made significant contributions, much of the literature tends to paraphrase Hegel’s text without fully engaging with the complexities of his arguments. This gap underscores the necessity and timeliness of Zander’s work, which strives to provide a thorough and precise reconstruction of Hegel’s arguments, ensuring that no nuance is overlooked.
The methodological rigor of the book is evident in Zander’s commitment to analyzing Hegel’s text with exactitude. He insists on the importance of not omitting any phrases and cautions against reading into the text more than what is present. Recognizing that Hegel’s writing is notoriously dense and that his arguments are tightly woven, Zander dedicates himself to unpacking each sentence, often examining Hegel’s words “sentence by sentence, word by word.” This careful approach is designed to prevent misinterpretations and to preserve the integrity of Hegel’s original thought.
Zander also addresses the challenges posed by Hegel’s use of examples, which can be misleading if not carefully considered within the context of his logical deductions. He underscores the necessity of reconstructing Hegel’s arguments in a way that maintains their validity and consistency with the entirety of his philosophical system. This involves cross-referencing Hegel’s formulations and ensuring that interpretations align with his stated intentions and methodological principles.
A significant portion of the book is devoted to clarifying the nature of Hegel’s Logic and its relation to metaphysics and traditional logic. Zander argues that Hegel’s Logic is not merely a transcendental logic in the Kantian sense but is a self-contained science of thinking that generates its own content. He refutes interpretations that conflate Hegel’s Logic with metaphysics or that posit it as a logic dependent on external content or empirical phenomena. Instead, he presents Hegel’s Logic as an exploration of pure determinations of thought, which are developed through the internal necessity of thinking itself.
Zander examines the details of Hegel’s method, particularly the dialectical movement by which determinations of thought develop and transition into one another. He elucidates how identity, difference, diversity, and opposition are interrelated within the Logic of Essence and how contradiction emerges as a pivotal moment in this development. He carefully reconstructs the transitions between determinations, demonstrating how each step is necessitated by the logical structure of Hegel’s system.
Throughout the book Zander confronts potential misunderstandings and misinterpretations of Hegel’s arguments. He warns against reading Hegel’s Logic as a transcendental logic that depends on phenomena or experience for its content. He emphasizes that Hegel’s determinations of thought are pure and should not be conflated with determinations of being in the empirical sense. By maintaining this distinction, Zander preserves Hegel’s logical deductions and prevents the introduction of external elements that could compromise the coherence of his system.
Zander also tackles the issue of how Hegel begins his Logic with the category of being, which is immediate and unmediated, and how this poses a problem for the self-contained nature of the system. He explores how Hegel resolves this issue by demonstrating that the initial immediacy of being is sublated through the dialectical process, leading to the mediated structures of essence and, eventually, to the concept.
The book culminates in an examination of how contradiction, as understood by Hegel, plays a central role in the self-development of the logical categories. Zander shows that for Hegel, contradiction is not merely a negative or destructive force but has a positive result, leading to the emergence of higher determinations. He explains how the dialectical movement involves the sublation of contradictions, resulting in new forms of unity that preserve and transcend the initial oppositions.
In Contradiction Resolves Itself, Folko Zander offers a significant contribution to Hegelian scholarship by providing a detailed and rigorous analysis of one of the most challenging aspects of Hegel’s Logic. His work stands out for its depth of insight, methodological precision, and commitment to preserving the fidelity of Hegel’s original arguments. By shedding light on the complex interplay of identity and contradiction within the Logic of Essence, Zander not only enhances our understanding of Hegel’s philosophy but also demonstrates the enduring relevance of dialectical thinking for contemporary philosophical discourse.
This book is essential reading for scholars of Hegel, German Idealism, and anyone interested in the foundational issues of logic and metaphysics. Zander’s careful exegesis and thoughtful engagement with both historical and contemporary perspectives make it a valuable resource for understanding how contradiction functions as a driving force in the development of thought and reality according to Hegel. His work invites readers to reconsider the role of contradiction in philosophy and challenges the traditional adherence to the principle of non-contradiction, opening up new avenues for constructive dialogue and exploration in the realm of speculative philosophy.
Simon Gros 
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