A graduate student who writes his...(thesis)
very quickly need not feel that it has to be
a fair sample of the best he can do. But the
longer he postpones his thesis...the more the
internal pressure mounts that his dissertation
has to be a minor masterpiece.[1]
This thesis introduces a new interpretation of Hegel's conception of Geist that more clearly shows Hegel's importance with respect to contemporary thought. Many other authors have done, or are presently doing, the same thing. This new interest in Hegel is due to a significant softening of opinions with respect to his thought. For reasons that are discussed in Chapter 1, Hegelian scholarship was, not too long ago, a "no-no." As a result, much of what is being written about Hegel and his thought goes overboard in being pro-Hegel. This thesis is no exception. It is my thesis that in order to understand contemporary life one must come to grips with Hegel.