The Story
Hegel and the Spirit explores the meaning of Hegels grand philosophical category, the category of Geist, by way of what Alan Olson terms a pneumatological thesis. Hegels philosophy of spirit, according to Olson, is a speculative pneumatology that completes what Adolf von Harnack once called the orphan doctrine in Christian theologythe doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Olson argues that Hegels development of philosophy as pneumatology originates out of a deep appreciation of Luthers dialectical understanding of Spirit and that Hegels doctrine of Spirit is thus deeply interfused with the values of Wrtemberg Pietism. Olson further maintains that Hegels Enzyklopdie is the postEnlightenment philosophical equivalent of a Trinittslehre and that his Rechtsphilosophie is an ecclesiology. Thus Hegel and the Spirit demonstrates the truth of Karl Barths observation that Hegel is the potential Aquinas of Protestantism. Exploring Hegels philosophy of spirit in historical, cultural, and personal religious context, the book identifies Hegels relationship with Hlderlin and his response to Hlderlins madness as key elements in the philosophers religious and philosophical development, especially with respect to the meaning of transcendence and dialectic.
Description
Hegel and the Spirit explores the meaning of Hegels grand philosophical category, the category of Geist, by way of what Alan Olson terms a pneumatological thesis. Hegels philosophy of spirit, according to Olson, is a speculative pneumatology that completes what Adolf von Harnack once called the orphan doctrine in Christian theologythe doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Olson argues that Hegels development of philosophy as pneumatology originates out of a deep appreciation of Luthers dialectical understanding of Spirit and that Hegels doctrine of Spirit is thus deeply interfused with the values of Wrtemberg Pietism. Olson further maintains that Hegels Enzyklopdie is the postEnlightenment philosophical equivalent of a Trinittslehre and that his Rechtsphilosophie is an ecclesiology. Thus Hegel and the Spirit demonstrates the truth of Karl Barths observation that Hegel is the potential Aquinas of Protestantism. Exploring Hegels philosophy of spirit in historical, cultural, and personal religious context, the book identifies Hegels relationship with Hlderlin and his response to Hlderlins madness as key elements in the philosophers religious and philosophical development, especially with respect to the meaning of transcendence and dialectic.
