SpringerLink
Log in

Augusto Vera’s Mystical Conception of Hegelianism

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Hegel and Schelling in Early Nineteenth-Century France

Abstract

This study reconstructs Augusto Vera’s systematic interpretation of Hegel. Its fundamental thesis runs, “Philosophical knowledge is essentially systematic”, and on this basis I argue that it is by way of the category of totality that Vera discovers, discusses and ultimately adopts Hegel’s philosophy: all of his work is to be understood from the perspective of the question of accessing the absolute—or absolute knowledge. If his reading of Hegel is systematic, it is because, by way of identifying himself with Hegelian thought, he seeks to respond to a demand for totality and perfect a kind of knowledge. I show this by narrating the early Vera’s development through the 1840s into the 1850s and beyond.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    The members of the Hegelian school are, according to Poitou: Taine, Renan and Vacherot. On this history of references to Hegel, see Bellantone (2011: 297–452).

  2. 2.

    The book was originally published in 1855. This re-edition takes into account the second edition of 1864, which, according to Vera himself, did not undergo any significant modifications.

  3. 3.

    Mariano was a close disciple of Vera. Vera went on to enjoy international prestige, due to his affiliation with several scientific societies (the Philosophische Gesellschaft in Berlin and the Philosophical Society of St Louis in the United States of America). On Vera’s milieu, see Rosenkranz (1868).

  4. 4.

    On the importance and questionable quality of these translations, see Oldrini (1994: 35–51).

  5. 5.

    Regarding the importance of Vera, Gentile wrote that “Hegel and Vera were for many years two inseparable names “. See Gentile (1957: 266).

  6. 6.

    This is not Vera’s first publication. On Vera’s publications, see Savorelli (1986: 1279–1306).

  7. 7.

    On Vera’s biography, see Mariano (1905).

  8. 8.

    Vera formed part of the “colony” of Italian intellectuals in France, who were protected by Charles de Rémusat. He taught at Mont-de-Marsan, Toulon, Lille, and also for a short time in Paris. In 1844, he passed the “agrégation”. On the Italians in Paris, see Mastellone (1955) and Gioberti (1927–1930: II.53).

  9. 9.

    The two theses were defended in 1844 and published in 1845 (see Vera 1845a, b). The entry on Idealism was published in Vera (1847).

  10. 10.

    On the hegemony of eclecticism, see Vermeren (1995) and Ragghianti (1997).

  11. 11.

    On the anti-German direction in eclecticism, see Cotten (1996: 105).

  12. 12.

    The journal was entitled, Emporio italian, published in Italian, English and French. see Vera (1883: 225).

  13. 13.

    The new preface (1864) to the Introduction, as well as the essays contained in L’hégélianisme et la philosophie testify most evidently to this.

  14. 14.

    In short, the circulation of Hegel’s thought in France encountered anti-Hegelian tendencies, which in turn led to a rapid eclipse of this thought. See Bellantone (2011: 157–161).

  15. 15.

    This will be one of the most contested points: either in spiritualist terms by Ravaisson (1840: 396–427) or in neo-critical terms by Lachelier (1992: 91–94).

  16. 16.

    On the question of non-personal reason, see Bouiller (1844).

  17. 17.

    Vera arrives at the same conclusion in his Latin thesis (1845b: 84).

  18. 18.

    On the theses and their anti-Hegelian inspiration, see Gentile (1957: 274).

  19. 19.

    The Marxist explanation of this change is given by Guido Oldrini, evoking an “instinctive exigence of class” in order to justify the “ideological position in withdrawal” taken by Vera. See Oldrini (1964: 118). Cf. Gentile (1957: 291).

  20. 20.

    The three articles are republished in Vera (1862).

  21. 21.

    Many commentators have been astonished by this omission, e.g., Janet (1861: 320).

  22. 22.

    See also Oldrini (1964: 101).

  23. 23.

    It is certain that Vera’s conception of the encyclopaedic movement relies solely on the first figure discussed in §575 of the Enzyklopädie, according to which “logic becomes nature, and nature becomes spirit”. In this unilateral form, the systematic movement must appear necessary, because mediation itself was not mediated a priori. See Hegel (2006b: 3.373–374).

  24. 24.

    Oldrini speaks of a “fetishism of categories” in Vera (1964: 144–147).

  25. 25.

    See also Bellantone (2011: 32–128). In light of these declaration, one cannot but agree with Oldrini when he talks about a “fetishism of categories” in Vera (see previous note).

  26. 26.

    On Cousin and Plato, see Cousin (2016). On the identification, at least early on, of Cousin and the idealist tradition, see Ragghianti (1997: 77, 147).

  27. 27.

    Vera here criticizes the use of Platonism against Hegel, as in Paul Janet’s Études sur la dialectique dans Platon et dans Hegel. On this book, see Bellantone (2011: 415–438).

  28. 28.

    The eclectic influence is again decisive, as Cousin also identified in Kant a “negative and critical genius” having begun with “a little idealism” only in order to finish in scepticism (1828: ii; 1853: 5.17).

  29. 29.

    With remarkable lucidity, Spaventa (1856) understood that Cousin’s idealism could not lead to an adequate, modern conception of the idea, and the same is true regarding Vera’s idealism.

  30. 30.

    On the antinomies in Kant, see Vera (2010: 51–52). On the connection between dialectics and system in light of the notion of totality, see Vera (2010: 89–116).

  31. 31.

    See also Cousin (1853: 6.39–40).

  32. 32.

    Translated by Adi Efal-Lautenschläger.

Bibliography

  • Bellantone, Andrea. 2011. Hegel en France, vol I: De Cousin à Vera. Paris: Hermann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouiller, Francisque. 1844. Théorie de la raison impersonnelle. Paris: Joubert.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cotten, Jean-Pierre. 1996. Victor Cousin et la ‘mauvaise métaphysique de l’Allemagne dégénérée. In La réception de la philosophie allemande en France aux XIXème et XXème siècles, ed. J. Quillien, 85-110. Lille: Presses Universitaires du Septentrion.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cousin, Victor. 1828. Nouveaux fragments philosophiques. Paris: Pichon et Didier.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1833. Fragments philosophiques, 2nd ed. Paris: Ladrange.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1853. Cours de philosophie sur le fondement des idées absolues du vrai, du beau, du bien (1818). Paris: Ladrange.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2016. Platon, ed. Christiane Mauve et al. Vrin: Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franck, Adolphe. (ed.) 1844–52. Dictionnaire des sciences philosophiques. Paris: Hachette.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gentile, Giovanni. 1957. Le origini della filosofia contemporanea in Italia, vol. III/1. Firenze: Sansoni.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gioberti, V. 1927–30. Epistolario. Firenze: Vallecchi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegel, G. W. F. 1859. Logique de Hegel. Trans. A. Vera, 2 vols. Paris: Ladrange.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1863. Philosophie de la nature de Hegel. Trans. A. Vera, 3 vols. Paris: Ladrange.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1867–9. Philosophie de l’esprit de Hegel. Trans. A. Vera, 2 vols. Paris: Baillière.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1876–8. Philosophie de la religion de Hegel. Trans. A. Vera. 3 vols. Paris, Ballière.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2006a. Phénoménologie de l’esprit. Trans. B. Bourgeois. Paris: Vrin.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2006b. Encyclopédie des sciences philosophiques en abrégé, III, Philosophie de l’esprit. Trans. B. Bourgeois. Paris: Vrin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janet, Paul. 1861. Etudes sur la dialectique dans Platon et Hegel. Paris: Ladrange.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarczyk, G., and P.-J. Labarrière. 1996. De Kojève à Hegel. Cent cinquante ans de réception hégélienne en France. Paris: Albin Michel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachelier, Jules. 1992. Du fondement de l’induction et d’autres textes. Paris: Fayard.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mariano, Raphael. 1868. La philosophie contemporaine en Italie. Essai de philosophie hégélienne. Paris: Baillière.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1905. Augusto Vera. In Uomini e idee. Firenze: Barbera editore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mastellone, Salvo. 1955. Victor Cousin e il Risorgimento italiano. Firenze: Le Monnier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldrini, Guido. 1964. Gli hegeliani di Napoli. In Augusto Vera e la corrente ortodossa. Milano: Feltrinelli.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1994. Augusto Vera et le sens de la vulgarisation hégélienne en Europe. Revue de métaphysique et de morale (January–March): 35–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2001. Hegel e l’hegelismo nella Francia dell’Ottocento. Milano: Guerini.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poitou, Eugè. 1864. Les philosophes français contemporains et leurs systèmes religieux. Paris: Charpentier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ragghianti, Renzo. 1997. La tentazione del presente. Victor Cousin tra filosofie della storia e teorie della memoria. Napoli: Bibliopolis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravaisson, Félix. 1840. Philosophie contemporaine. Revue des Deux Mondes (November): 396–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenkranz, Karl. 1868. Hegels Naturphilosophie und die Bearbeitung derselben durch den italienischen Philosophen A. Vera. Berlin: Nicolaische Verlagsbuchhandlung.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savorelli, A. 1986. Bibliografia delle opere di Augusto Vera. Annali della Scuola normale superiore di Pisa, Classe di Lettere e Filosofia, 3rd series, 16.4: 1279–1306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spaventa, Bertrando. 1856. Il sensualismo del secolo XVIII e V. Cousin. Rivista contemporanea 5 (7): 454–464.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1900. Le prime categorie della logica di Hegel (1864). In Scritti filosofici, ed. G. Gentile. Napoli: Morano.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vera, Augusto. 1843. Philosophie allemande: doctrine de Hegel. Revue du lyonnais 17: 379–404.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1845a. Le problème de la certitude. Paris: Joubert.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1845b. Platonis, Aristotelis et Hegelii de medio termino doctrina. Paris: Joubert.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1847. Coup d’oeil historique et critique sur l’idéalisme. Paris: Pankoncke.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1848. “Philosophie de la religion de Hegel” / “Un mot sur la philosophie et la Révolution française” / “La Religion et l’Etat”. La Liberté de penser 1/2: 142-164, 391–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1856. An Inquiry into speculative and experimental science, with special reference to Mr Calderwood and Professor Ferrier’s recent publications, and to Hegel’s doctrine. London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1861. L’hégélianisme et la philosophie. Paris: Ladrange.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1862. Mélanges philosophiques. Paris: Ladrange.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1864. Essais de philosophie hégélienne. Paris: Baillière.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1872. Il problema dell’assoluto, vol. I. Napoli: Detken & Rochol.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1883. Saggi filosofici. Napoli: Morano.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2004. Introduzione alla Logica di Hegel. Perugia: Fabbri Editore.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2010. Introduction à la philosophie de Hegel. Paris: L’Harmattan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vermeren, Patrice. 1995. Victor Cousin: Le jeu de la philosophie et de l’Etat. Paris: L’Harmattan.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Catholique de Toulouse, Toulouse, France

    Andrea Bellantone

Authors
  1. Andrea Bellantone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea Bellantone .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Kirill Chepurin

  2. University of Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Adi Efal-Lautenschläger

  3. Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK

    Daniel Whistler

  4. Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, France

    Ayşe Yuva

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Bellantone, A. (2023). Augusto Vera’s Mystical Conception of Hegelianism. In: Chepurin, K., Efal-Lautenschläger, A., Whistler, D., Yuva, A. (eds) Hegel and Schelling in Early Nineteenth-Century France. International Archives of the History of Ideas Archives internationales d'histoire des idées, vol 247. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39326-6_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation