Absolute Idea

Abstract

In the course of the last chapter we have had occasion to talk about Hegel’s logical method. His own discussion of that theme takes place in the final chapter of his Science of Logic, where he talks about “the Idea” as valid in all respects. All earlier concepts within the logic have been shown to be partial and relative. When the understanding put them under its microscope, each one was found to require reference to some other concept to be complete, and so their meaning is contingent on that relationship. The only concept that holds in all contexts is the method reasoning uses, when it examines and reflects on its own thoughts.