Sila Ozkara

Defense Date

4-11-2013

Graduation Date

Spring 2013

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

thesis

Degree Name

MA

Department

Philosophy

School

McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts

Committee Chair

Tom Rockmore

Committee Member

John McDowell

Keywords

Anti-foundational, Circular, Dialectic, Epistemology, Hegel, Kant, Reinhold

Abstract

This thesis concerns the circular epistemology of Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit and Science of Logic. I argue that these works can be read as epistemologies based on the dialectical structure of their progression. Furthermore, I claim that this dialectical structure is circular. I hold that the epistemology of these works is circular not only because it is anti-foundational, self-justifying, and presuppositionless, but also in these works one instance of knowledge depends on the next for its justification and so on, until the last instance of knowledge returns to the first. Hegel sharply attacks Reinhold in The Difference Between Fichte's and Schelling's System of Philosophy, but changes his mind in the Science of Logic to embrace elements of Reinhold's philosophy. I argue that, through this circular epistemological reading of the Phenomenology of Spirit and the Science of Logic, we can account for Hegel's changing view.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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