Hegel is regarded as one of the most influential figures on modern political and intellectual development. After painting Hegel's life and times in broad strokes, Peter Singer goes on to tackle some of the more challenging aspects of Hegel's philosophy. Offering a broad discussion of Hegel's ideas and an account of his major works, Singer explains what have often been considered abstruse and obscure ideas in a clear and inviting manner.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
An excellent VSI:
The VSI series can be a bit mixed, but Singer's entry in the series on Hegel is outstanding. It offers a superlative introduction to the complexity of Hegel's thoughts and does so in clear and engaging prose. My primary complaint, although I sympathize with the reasons that Singer offers, is the scant treatment of the Science of Logic. It is immensely important to understanding Hegel, and other works, like The Philosophy of Right, which Singer devotes a chapter too, rest on the views put forward in the... more info
I read it; I'm still a beginner.:
I have a couple of the "V. Short Introductions". Reading this book, one should bear in mind that by himself Singer is something of an anti-Hegelian, as well as an expert. His reservations spill over into his follow-up intro to Marx. Compared to Roger Scruton's V. Short Intro.s, Singer is summary and helpful, but after reading, you will remain a beginner. Scruton's intro to Kant is much, much harder, and much more rewarding. I feel like I still don't know anything about Hegel, and I think a slightly deeper... more info
Amazingly clear:
Peter Singer's clarity is astonishing. This Very Short Introduction is a great read, and so is the one he wrote on Marx. I wish he'd write more of these books, thy're a great way to get to know the basics on these thinkers without spending too much time on it.
A decent overview of a difficult philosopher:
The author here presents a short overview of the philosophy of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831). As with most of the books in the Very Short Introduction series from Oxford University Press, the presentation is clear, straightforward, and lucid. Singer's overview briefly cover's Hegel's life, and then turns to major works - Philosophy of History, Philosophy of Right, The Phenomenology of Mind, and Science of Logic. Each of these works is briefly discussed, with the longest discussion being... more info
