Hegel's Circular Epistemology in the Phenomenology of Spirit and the Science of Logic

This thesis concerns the circular epistemology of Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit and Science of Logic. I argue that these works can be read as epistemologies based on the dialectical structure of their progression. Furthermore, I claim that this dialectical structure is circular. I hold that the epistemology of these works is circular not only because it is anti-foundational, self-justifying, and presuppositionless, but also in these works one instance of knowledge depends on the next for its justification and so on, until the last instance of knowledge returns to the first. Hegel sharply attacks Reinhold in The Difference Between Fichte's and Schelling's System of Philosophy, but changes his mind in the Science of Logic to embrace elements of Reinhold's philosophy. I argue that, through this circular epistemological reading of the Phenomenology of Spirit and the Science of Logic, we can account for Hegel's changing view.

Name thesis:degree_name

MA

Level thesis:degree_level

Immediate Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Philosophy

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Ozkara, Sila

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tom Rockmore
• John McDowell

• Anti-foundational
• Circular
• Dialectic
• Epistemology
• Hegel
• Kant
• Reinhold

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1005

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-2021