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5 Hegel and the Rationality of Nature

  • Anton Kabeshkin
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The Concept of Nature in Classical German Philosophy
This chapter is in the book The Concept of Nature in Classical German Philosophy

Abstract

In this chapter I discuss the question whether Hegel believed that his philosophy of nature was supposed to play a beneficial role for empirical scientists and thus positively influence scientific progress. I first discuss the same issue in Schelling, in whose case it is generally agreed that he did believe that his philosophy of nature could (and, indeed, did) influence the progress of empirical sciences. I reconstruct his position on this issue in some detail. I then proceed to investigate whether Hegel’s position was similar to Schelling’s and, in the process, argue against the deflationary interpretation of Alison Stone who answered this question in the negative. I argue that Hegel did at least believe that general presuppositions about the rationality of nature are beneficial for natural scientists. I then consider whether and how his own philosophy of nature could provide guidance for science, according to his views.

Abstract

In this chapter I discuss the question whether Hegel believed that his philosophy of nature was supposed to play a beneficial role for empirical scientists and thus positively influence scientific progress. I first discuss the same issue in Schelling, in whose case it is generally agreed that he did believe that his philosophy of nature could (and, indeed, did) influence the progress of empirical sciences. I reconstruct his position on this issue in some detail. I then proceed to investigate whether Hegel’s position was similar to Schelling’s and, in the process, argue against the deflationary interpretation of Alison Stone who answered this question in the negative. I argue that Hegel did at least believe that general presuppositions about the rationality of nature are beneficial for natural scientists. I then consider whether and how his own philosophy of nature could provide guidance for science, according to his views.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. 1 Introduction: The Resurgence of Classical German Natural Philosophy 1
  4. Part I Visions of Nature
  5. 2 Three Visions of Nature for German Idealism: Kant, Herder, Goethe 21
  6. 3 Nature as a “You”: Novalis’s Philosophical Extension of Fichte 45
  7. 4 Schelling on Comprehending Nature as an Absolute Activity: From Intellectual Intuition to Ecstasy of Reason 61
  8. 5 Hegel and the Rationality of Nature 77
  9. 6 Ludwig Feuerbach’s Ecological Humanism 91
  10. Part II Inorganic Nature
  11. 7 Kant’s Concept of Force and its Application in Physics and Psychology 111
  12. 8 From Kant to Schelling: Metaphysics of Nature and the Rise of Modern Science 135
  13. 9 Goethe’s Rational Empiricism 157
  14. 10 Hegel’s Concept of Inorganic Nature as Umwelt 183
  15. Part III Organic Nature
  16. 11 Nature versus Life: Dialectics and Physiology in Schelling 209
  17. 12 Anatomopathology of Reason: Bichat’s Legacy in Hegel’s Philosophy 229
  18. 13 The Emergence of Sentience: Hegel’s Conception of Animals 247
  19. 14 Great Chains of Being in Schelling’s Würzburg System 263
  20. 15 In What Sense is Nature a Scale of Degrees? Schelling and Hegel on “Degrees” in Nature 283
  21. Index of Names 295
  22. Index of Subjects 297
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111002453-005

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. 1 Introduction: The Resurgence of Classical German Natural Philosophy 1
  4. Part I Visions of Nature
  5. 2 Three Visions of Nature for German Idealism: Kant, Herder, Goethe 21
  6. 3 Nature as a “You”: Novalis’s Philosophical Extension of Fichte 45
  7. 4 Schelling on Comprehending Nature as an Absolute Activity: From Intellectual Intuition to Ecstasy of Reason 61
  8. 5 Hegel and the Rationality of Nature 77
  9. 6 Ludwig Feuerbach’s Ecological Humanism 91
  10. Part II Inorganic Nature
  11. 7 Kant’s Concept of Force and its Application in Physics and Psychology 111
  12. 8 From Kant to Schelling: Metaphysics of Nature and the Rise of Modern Science 135
  13. 9 Goethe’s Rational Empiricism 157
  14. 10 Hegel’s Concept of Inorganic Nature as Umwelt 183
  15. Part III Organic Nature
  16. 11 Nature versus Life: Dialectics and Physiology in Schelling 209
  17. 12 Anatomopathology of Reason: Bichat’s Legacy in Hegel’s Philosophy 229
  18. 13 The Emergence of Sentience: Hegel’s Conception of Animals 247
  19. 14 Great Chains of Being in Schelling’s Würzburg System 263
  20. 15 In What Sense is Nature a Scale of Degrees? Schelling and Hegel on “Degrees” in Nature 283
  21. Index of Names 295
  22. Index of Subjects 297
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