The meta-ontological option

on taking the existential turn

George Khushf

pp. 119-142

in: Tristram Engelhardt, Terry Pinkard (eds), Hegel reconsidered, Berlin, Springer, 1994

Abstract

Klaus Hartmann has advanced a "non-metaphysical" reading of Hegel which he calls "the ontological option" ([9], [10]). With this reading one carefully distinguishes between "ordinary level" concerns, such as whether or not something exists, and "pure categorial" concerns, in which a systematic program is developed for the satisfaction of reason.¹ Through the non-metaphysical reading one thus avoids confusing transcendental and ordinary domains. However, in this essay I shall argue that the ontological option develops only one side of the non-metaphysical reading. It enables one to appropriately take the "transcendental turn" and thereby guards against the importation of ordinary level concerns into the transcendental level [6]. It "makes space" for the satisfaction of reason ([9], p. 1). But it does not sufficiently develop the implications of the transcendental, systematic ordering for ordinary level concerns.² Nor does it sufficiently guard against importing results into the ordinary level that are only applicable at the pure transcendental level. We also need help in taking the turn back to the ordinary level once we have taken the transcendental turn — a turn back that I shall call the "existential turn".

Cited authors

Hegel Georg Wilhelm Friedrich

Hartmann Klaus