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Hegel’s modal argument against Spinozism. An interpretation of the chapter ‘Actuality’ in the Science of Logic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2015

Franz Knappik
Franz Knappik*
Affiliation:
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlinfranz.knappik@hu-berlin.de
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Abstract

I propose a new reading of Hegel’s discussion of modality in the ‘Actuality’ chapter of the Science of Logic. On this reading, the main purpose of the chapter is a critical engagement with Spinoza’s modal metaphysics. Hegel first reconstructs a rationalist line of thought — corresponding to the cosmological argument for the existence of God — that ultimately leads to Spinozist necessitarianism. He then presents a reductio argument against necessitarianism, contending that as a consequence of necessitarianism, no adequate explanatory accounts of facts about finite reality can be given.

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Hegel Bulletin , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , May 2015 , pp. 53 - 79
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© The Hegel Society of Great Britain 2015 

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