Hegel's Epistemology: A Philosophical Introduction to the Phenomenology of Spirit

A reader-friendly, yet philosophically sharp and textually reliable introduction to one of the classics of western philosophy. Westphal shows why the dramatic, quasi-historical, structure of Hegel’s work is not accidental to it, but is rather required by the reflective, self-critical, nature of judgement that Hegel assumes from the beginning. The book will be of interest to readers who approach Hegel with analytical as well as phenomenological preconceptions, and of use (but for different reasons) to undergraduates and graduate students alike. --George di Giovanni, McGill University

Westphal argues that epistemological realism is compatible with a social and historical constructivism, and that Hegel shows us how a self-critical community of human knowers can achieve (and reflectively appreciate) knowledge of the world around them and their place in it. Almost 200 years ago Hegel had the kind of epistemology we now know we need! I hope this book will put Hegel back into the canon of epistemology. --Willem de Vries, University of New Hampshire

Philosophically, the most satisfying and sophisticated account of the Phenomenology yet. --Frederick Beiser, Syracuse University

Provides a succinct philosophical introduction to Hegel''s Phenomenology of Spirit for non-specialists and students, focusing on Hegel''s unique and insightful theory of knowledge and its relations to 20th-century epistemology.