Half Hour Hegel: The Complete Phenomenology of Spirit (Self-Consciousness sec. 167)

In this sixty-seventh video in the new series on G.W.F. Hegel's great early work, the Phenomenology of Spirit, we now commence study of the section "Self-Consciousness". I read and comment on paragraph 167 of the text here.

In this paragraph, Hegel continues discussing the transition from Consciousness -- and its modes of meaning, perception, and understanding -- to explicit Self-Consciousness, which is a new shape (Gestalt) of consciousness in the dialectic. Consciousness turns out to have implicitly involved self-consciousness all the while, and consciousness is by its very essence a relation to otherness.

Self-Consciousness involves this relation to an Other, but also encompasses this relation itself, since self-consciousness is, by virtue of the "self-", related to itself, creating differences and superseding them within itself. Self-consciousness is also a lack of integration -- the opposite of the tautological purely self-referential "I am I" -- that is, it is Desire (Begierde) as such.

In this video series, I will be working through the entire Phenomenology, paragraph by paragraph -- for each one, first reading the paragraph, and then commenting on what Hegel is doing, referencing, discussing, etc. in that paragraph.

The introductory music for the video is Johann Sebastian Bach,

[crisoliveira]

In Hegelian Soviet Russia, the book becomes concious of you. But in a second moment, it becomes conscious of itself. Then it realizes its true desire is to be aknowledged by other books, a goal it is willing to die for and...

[crizish]

Yeah well...that's just like, your opinion man.🤭