The Problem of Self-consciousness and the Place of “Social Chapters” in the Composition of Hegel’s “Phenomenology of Spirit”

Abstract

The article analyzes the relationship between the two topics of “Phenomenology of Spirit” – the search for a way to reveal the content of self-consciousness and the study of the place of socio-historical subject area in the structure of the work. The unity of thought and language makes “inner speech” a necessary element of “experience of consciousness”, that’s why it is impossible to recognize the “in­tellectual intuition” as a method of comprehending self-consciousness. On the other hand, the shape of “infinity” reveals the insufficiency of the mental model of self-consciousness. In this crisis phase of the development of the plot, Hegel turns to the consideration of socio-historical subject area. The speculative structure of “infinity” acts as the basis for the constitution of “modes of self-consciousness” as subjects of social action, and the content of self-consciousness expresses itself in their relations, which are available for observation and description. In the “social chapters” Hegel shows that the evolution of forms of social relations is able to re­veal the content of self-consciousness. The “recollection-inwardizing” of Spirit demonstrates the possibility of a “perfect understanding” of historical epochs and cultures and leads to Absolute knowledge as “concrete self-consciousness”. Based on the study of the problem, the article concludes about the fundamental impor­tance of the method of socio-historical understanding of self-consciousness for substantiating the rational-conceptual form of philosophical knowledge.