Georg Oswald

This paper reevaluates Adorno’s theory of non-identity following from a critical examination of his reading of Hegel. The main discussion revolves around two theses central to both philosophers: 1. Conceptual thinking forms the centre of philosophical thought (identification). 2. Philosophical thought aspires to become everything (totality). The analysis of two distinct interpretations, one stricter and one more moderate, demonstrates that Adorno takes the hardline view. With the moderate view, however, not only do the limits of Hegelian philosophy become more pronounced, they also reveal novel systematic connections with pivotal concepts inherent to Critical Theory – connections that have notably lacked substantial consideration within relevant research.

Das Problem, das in dieser Arbeit behandelt wird, ist kein geringeres als die Frage nach dem spekulativen Übergang der (spekulativ gedachten) Logik in die Natur, wie sie von Hegel in den letzten beiden Absätzen seiner 'Wissenschaft der Logik' aufgeworfen wird. Die Tatsache, dass Hegel diesen Übergang dabei nur andeutet, wirft interpretatorische Fragen auf, die auf ein generelles Interpretationsproblem der hegelschen Philosophie hinweisen. Im Zentrum der Untersuchung steht der für die Auflösung der Übergangsproblematik virulente Gedanke der Idee im weiten Sinn und der Gedanke der endlichen, logischen und absoluten Idee im engen Sinn."--Page 4 of printed paper wrapper.

Kant, Schelling, and Hegel research has frequently highlighted differences when considering their three respective concepts of philoso-phy. Especially with regard to natural philosophy, there seems to be little common ground between them. In my paper, however, I want to revise this perspective, picking up on what brings them together. Taking the concept of matter as my primary example, I will argue that neither Kant nor Schelling nor Hegel are interested in conceiving of nature from the viewpoint of empirical observation and as independent of the subject. Rather, their respective philosophical inquiries into nature’s first prin-ciples hinge on critical examinations of reason, providing all three with the conceptual resources to address nature from a metaphysical point of view that is ultimately bound up with rational beings.