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October 15, 2008
HegelPlan I:
1) One central idea pt on t!e table in Self-Consciousness i" t!at o# mastery, and t!e
"trctre o# independence. $logan #or Hegel%" pro&ect: '(ro) Independence to
(reedo)* +,er"tand,ernn#t, 'Hi"tor- o# t!e progre"" o# t!e con"cio"ne"" o#
#reedo).* .e are al/a-" implicitly #ree, in t!at /e are i)plicitl- committed to a
co))nit- /it! t!e "trctre o# #reedo). 0t /e )"t )a1e t!at co))it)ent explicit,
and )"t implement it institutionally.
2) 2: Self-Consciousness: 3a"ter-
a) 4e)inder: "eparate in5t!e5allegor- "tor- #ro) t!e point o# t!e allegor-, /!at it i"
allegorical for. 6!e #or)er i" t!e 3a"ter and t!e $la7e, a pri)iti7e "trctre o#
"b&ect5"b&ect and "b&ect5ob&ect relation". 6!e latter i" an accont o# t!e
relation" bet/een at!orit- 8+independence) and re"pon"ibilit- 8+dependence).
b) 3a"ter- i" to repre"ent asymmetric recogniti7e relation" generall-: t!e atte)pt to
con"tre at!orit- and re"pon"ibilit- on t!e )odel 8according to t!e "trctre) o#
independence. 6!at i" at!orit- nder"tood a" in7ol7ing no correlati7e
re"pon"ibilit-t!e t!og!t t!at i# t!ere /ere a correlati7e re"pon"ibilit-, in"o#ar
a" t!ere i", t!at /old nderct t!e at!orit-, )a1e it le"" real or genine.
c) Hegel i", a" Pippin !a" e)p!a"i9ed, t!e #ir"t "el#5con"cio" p!ilo"op!er o#
modernityt!e #ir"t not &"t to enact it, bt to ta1e it a" an e:plicit topic. In I,0
/e "ee !o/ t!e di"tincti7el- modern in7e"titre o# authority in subjectivity adapt"
t!e "trctre o# independence /e #ir"t "ee in t!e #or) o# 3a"ter-in $toici"),
$1eptici"), and t!e ;n!app- <on"cio"ne"". In Spirit /e /ill "ee it ta1ing t!e
di"tincti7el- modern #or) o# alienation.
d)
i) 6!ere i" an arg)ent #ro) social or organizational engineering to t!e
concl"ion t!at an e##icient and ")oot!l-5rnning organi9ation, at!orit- and
re"pon"ibilit- "!old be co5ordinate and co))en"rate. 6!e occpier o# eac!
role "!old /ield enog! at!orit- to e:ecte !i" or !er re"pon"ibilitie", and
"!old be re"pon"ible #or t!o"e e:erci"e" o# at!orit-. ,ario" functional
pat!ologie" are predictable in a !ierarc!- t!ata" o#ten !appen"grant"
at!orit- largel- /it!ot re"pon"ibilit- at t!e top, and re"pon"ibilit- largel-
/it!ot at!orit- at t!e botto). 8<o)pare: <=O /!o ba"icall- an"/er" to
no5one, and )id5le7el )anager re"pon"ible #or a pro&ect !e doe" not !a7e
enog! at!orit- to )a1e !appen.)
ii) 2nd politically, too, t!e i)balance o# re"pon"ibilit- and at!orit- i" a
co))on 1ind o# pat!olog-. .!ere t!o"e in at!orit- 8o7er di"po"ition o#
re"orce", or t!e rle" ot!er" are obliged to #ollo/) cannot be !eld practicall-
re"pon"ible #or t!o"e deci"ion" or "trctre", /!ere t!o"e /!o are responsible
#or acting in certain /a-" 8'indi7idal re"pon"ibilit-* a" a la/5and5order
"logan) do not !a7e authority o7er t!o"e rle" or condition", one !a" a #or) o#
oppression.
e) Hegel i" o#ten #eted #or bringing a concern, #ir"t /it! desire 8!ence organic
e)bodi)ent) and t!en "ocial or interper"onal e:erci"e" o# power into !i" anal-"i"
o# t!e natre o# "el7e" and "el#5con"cio"ne"". 0t I /old clai) t!at it i" not o#
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t!e #ir"t i)portance t!at t!e imbalance o# at!orit- and re"pon"ibilit- t!at i" t!e
pat!olog- in @e"tion be in"titted b- violence and t!e t!reat o# 7iolence. All t!at
)atter" i" t!at i)balance.
#) Hegel does /ant to "a- /!at i" /rong /it! t!e in"tittion" 8inclding,
i)portantl-, political one") "trctred b- a"-))etric recogniti7e relation", t!o"e
e:!ibiting incommensurate "trctre" o# at!orit- and re"pon"ibilit-. 0t !i"
ob&ection i" not functional, or in t!e #ir"t in"tance moral 8a" t!e ob&ection" o# t!e
3ar: o# t!e 18?? 3an"cript" clearl- I t!in1 i"in "pite o# !i" later re&ection o#
t!at order o# arg)entation). It i" ontological. 6!ere i" a #nda)ental
misunderstanding o# t!e natre o# authority in7ol7ed in con"tring it according to
t!e categorie" o# independence.
g) .e are introdced to t!i" t!og!t b- t!e plig!t o# t!e 3a"terb- t!in1ing
t!rog! /!- !e cannot get /!at !e /ant", cannot be /!o !e ta1e" !i)"el# to be,
not t!rog! an- )atter5o#5#actal #ailre, bt #or deep, inelctable "trctral
rea"on". 6!e li7ing contradiction at t!e !eart o# 3a"ter- a" a #or) o# li#e, /!at
)a1e" it in5principle "el#5de#eating, i" /!at Hegel el"e/!ere 8t!e earl- '(ate o#
<!ri"tianit-*) call" 'die .ir1ng de" $c!ic1"al"*: t!e ca"alit- o# #ate. It i" /!at
I call ')etap!-"ical iron-*.
!) .it!in t!e allegor-, t!e proble) i" t!at both t!e 3a"ter%" "el#5con"cio"ne"", t!at
i", !i" relation to !i)"el# a" a "b&ect, and !i" relation to ob&ect", are in #act
dependent on t!e $la7e.
i) On t!e "ide o# relation to ob&ect": t!e 3a"ter%" immediate "ati"#action o# !i"
de"ire" 8i))ediate in t!at !e doe" not work, need not o7erco)e t!e stubborn
recalcitrance o# t!e ob&ecti7e to "b&ecti7e de"ire) i" in #act mediated b- and
dependent pon t!e /or1 o# t!e $la7e 8/!o bot! does con#ront t!e recalcitrance
o# t!e ob&ecti7e in /or1, and ac@ire" a distanced mediated relation to t!e desires
being "ati"#ied, "ince t!e- are onl- attributed b- t!e $la7e to t!e 3a"ter, and not
felt b- t!e $la7e).
&) On t!e "ide o# self-consciousness and recognition :, it i" t!e Slave%" recognition o#
t!e 3a"ter t!at )a1e" t!e 3a"ter t!e 3a"ter. Aet t!e 3a"ter doe" not recogni9e
t!e $la7e%" at!orit- to con"titte "el7e", to )a1e t!ing" be /!at !e ta1e" t!e) to
be. Onl- t!e 3a"ter can 8according to t!e 3a"ter%" "el#5conception) do t!at. 8<#.
celebritie" /!o a) de"pi"e t!eir #an" and t!eir &dg)ent and b) are celebritie" onl-
beca"e o# t!e re"pect and recognition o# t!eir #an". Broc!o: 'I /oldn%t /ant
to belong to an- clb t!at /old !a7e )e a" a )e)ber.*)
1) 6!e "ta1e" are !ig! #or a general argument to t!e e##ect t!at t!e conception o#
authority /it!ot correlati7e and co))en"rate responsibility i" incoherent or
unintelligible. 2n- "c! arg)ent )"t gi7e a de#inite "en"e to Ccorrelative and
commensurate% in t!i" conte:t. 2nd t!e detail" /ill be o# con"iderable political
i)portance.
l) In #act, I t!in1 t!at outside t!e allegor-, t!e point i" abot t!e relation bet/een t!e
force and t!e determinate conceptual contentfulness o# practical attitde" and
per#or)ance". What is incoherent is the idea of determinately conceptually
contentful authority that does not involve undertaking a correlative and
commensurate responsibility. And that is incoherent because the concept of
determinate conceptual contentfulness is a conception of a kind of
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responsibility. If so, then exercising contentful authority is undertaking a
responsibility that is correlative and commensurate in the sense
determined precisely by its conceptual content. And that responsibility
essentially involves both responsibilities to objects and to other subjects (ho
administer the responsibility to ob!ects".
3) (ro) Self-Consciousness to !eason:
a) 6!e "igni#icance o# work trn" or attention to practical agency.
b) 6!e r!etorical )oti7ation #or t!e e:po"itor- tran"ition #ro) t!e di"c""ion o#
recognition in Self-Consciousness to t!e di"c""ion o# agenc- in !eason i" t!e
"igni#icance o# t!e $la7e%" e:perience o# work. .e !a7e "een !o/ t!e 3a"ter%"
de#ecti7e notion o# recognition re"lt" in !i" !a7ing a de#ecti7e "el#5con"cio"ne""
and "o a de#ecti7e "el#: one t!at can ne7er be in it"el# /!at it i" for !i). 6!i" i"
t!e )etap!-"ical iron- o# t!e ca"alit- o# #ate a" it /or1" ot on t!e "ide o#
recognition o# subjects. 0t a corre"ponding con"e@ence applie" on t!e "ide o#
experience o# objects. .it!in t!e allegor-, t!e 3a"ter%" relation" to t!e ob&ect" o#
de"ire beco)e", t!rog! t!e /or1 o# t!e $la7e, an immediate one. 6!e 3a"ter
doe" not e:perience t!e recalcitrance o# ob&ect" to !i" de"ire"D 6!e at!orit- o#
t!o"e de"ire" i" not #or !i) con#ronted b- a corre"ponding re"pon"ibilit- to !o/
t!o"e ob&ect" are in t!e)"el7e". 6!ere i" no "lip Ct/i:t t!e cp and t!e lip.
1
6!i"
practical attitde o# objective independence preclde" t!e 3a"ter #ro) !a7ing an-
intelligible conception o# !i)"el# a" an agent. It i" t!e crde"t and pre"t #or) o#
t!e 7ario" conception" o# agent"% at!orit- o7er and re"pon"ibilit- #or t!eir
doing" e:!ibiting t!e de#or)ed "trctre o# independence, /!ic! are retailed in
t!e "b"e@ent !eason "ection o# t!e "henomenology. 0- contra"t:
6!rog! /or1, !o/e7er, t!e bond")an beco)e" con"cio" o# /!at
!e trl- i"E Fe"ire !a" re"er7ed to it"el# t!e pre negating o# t!e
ob&ect and t!ereb- it" nallo-ed #eeling o# "el#. 0t t!at i" t!e
rea"on /!- t!i" "ati"#action i" it"el# onl- a #leeting one, #or it lac1"
t!e "ide o# ob&ecti7it- and per)anence. Work, on t!e ot!er !and,
is desire held in check, #leetingne"" "ta7ed o##D in ot!er /ord",
/or1 #or)" and "!ape" t!e t!ing. 6!e negati7e relation to t!e
ob&ect beco)e" it" #or) and "o)et!ing per)anent, beca"e it i"
preci"el- #or t!e /or1er t!at t!e ob&ect !a" independence. #his
negative middle term or the formative activity is at the same
time the individuality or pure being$for$self of consciousness
hich no, in the ork outside of it, ac%uires an element of
permanence. G195H
6!rog! t!i" redi"co7er- o# !i)"el# b- !i)"el#, t!e bond")an
reali9e" t!at it i" preci"el- in !i" /or1 /!erein !e "ee)ed to !a7e
onl- an alienated e:i"tence t!at !e ac@ire" a )ind o# !i" o/n.
G196H
c) .or1 i" e:perience e)bodied. 6!e 3a"ter, and t!e recogniti7e relation" !e
"!are" /it! t!e $la7e, o##er no e:pre""i7e /a- #or/ard. 6!e ne:t lesson abot
1
GIote n#ortnatel- not re)o7ed in proo#: (or t!i" rea"on one /ill "o)eti)e" !ear re#erence" to 't!e
)a""eter5"ali7a dialectic*.H
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"el#5con"cio"ne"" i" t!at a##orded b- t!e $la7e%" e:perience o# !i" relation, not to
ot!er subjects 8i.e. recogniti7e relation") bt to objects. 6!e le""on i" a 7er"ion o#
t!at #ro) Sense Certainty, onl- no/ on t!e practical "ide o# desire: t!e content o#
con"cio"ne""5a"5de"ire i" nintelligible i# t!e relation bet/een de"ire and
"ati"#action i" 8a" in t!e 3a"ter%" conception) immediate. 3ediation b- t!e
experience of error and failure i" nece""ar- to )a1e intelligible t!e contents o#
one%" t!og!t".
d) Ot"ide t!e allegor-, t!e point o# t!e di"c""ion o# work i" to rai"e t!e i""e o#
!o/ to nder"tand t!e con"tellation o# at!orit- and re"pon"ibilit- c!aracteri"tic
o# practical agency generall- according to t!e "trctre o# freedom rat!er t!an
independence. 6!at i" t!e rationale #or t!e tran"ition to t!e di"c""ion o# !eason
beca"e '4ea"on i" prpo"i7e acti7it-.*G22H
e) ;H<: Hegel introdce" t!e #or) o# "el#5con"cio"ne"" t!at #or)" t!e "b"trate o#
t!at in7e"tigation nder t!e rbric 't!e ;n!app- <on"cio"ne"".* 6!i" 1ind o#
"el#5con"cio"ne"" i" e:plicitl- a/are bot! o# t!e )o)ent o# independence or
at!orit- o# con"cio"ne"" and t!e )o)ent o# it" dependence or re"pon"ibilit-.
Independence i" )ani#e"ted in t!ing" being "o)et!ing for con"cio"ne"", being
cla""i#ied, a""e""ed, or recogni9ed b- it, and dependence corre"pondingl-
)ani#e"ted in t!ing" being "o)et!ing in t!e)"el7e", to /!ic! cla""i#ication",
a""e"")ent", and recognition" )"t an"/er #or t!eir correctne"". Pt di##erentl-,
t!e independence o# con"cio"ne"" i" )ani#e"ted in t!e at!orit- it e:erci"e" o7er
it" o/n acti7it- o# appl-ing concept" in &dging and acting, and it" dependence in
t!e re"pon"ibilit- o# t!o"e application" o# concept" to t!e deter)inate contents o#
t!o"e concept", /it! re"pect to /!ic! 1no/er" and agent" are not on eac!
occa"ion "o7ereign. 6!e ;n!app- <on"cio"ne"" i", #rt!er, e:plicitl- a/are
t!at, according to t!e onl- nder"tanding a7ailable to it o# /!at independence and
dependence )ean, t!e"e t/o )o)ent" are inco)patible.
G6H!e dplication /!ic! #or)erl- /a" di7ided bet/een t/o
indi7idal", t!e 3a"ter and t!e $la7e, i" no/ lodged in one. 6!e
dplication o# "el#5con"cio"ne"" /it!in it"el#, /!ic! i" e""ential to
t!e Iotion o# $pirit, i" t!" !ere be#ore ", bt not -et in it" nit-:
t!e #nhappy Consciousness i" t!e con"cio"ne"" o# "el# a" a dal5
natred, )erel- contradictor- being. G206H
#) ;H<: Benerall-, t!e 7ario" #or)" o# t!e ;n!app- <on"cio"ne"" ta1e it t!at
t!e- og!t not to de"ire, to a""ign t!ing" particlari9ed "igni#icance", bt t!at
/!at t!ing" are for "c! a "el#5con"cio"ne"" "!old be /!at t!e- are in
t!e)"el7e", according to t!e ni7er"al" 8conceptal content") on /!ic! t!e-
depend 8to /!ic! t!e- are re"pon"ible) #or t!eir "el#5con"cio"ne"". 6!eir "el#5
conception" are accordingl- "trctred a" atte)pt" to negate or o7erco)e t!eir
particlarit-, a" an ac1no/ledg)ent o# t!e at!orit- o# t!o"e ni7er"al". #hey
cannot bring together into one coherent practical attitude recognitions of
themselves as particular desiring organisms and as bound by universal
norms, and so can neither understand themselves as self$conscious
individuals (particulars as characteri&ed by universals, as sub!ect to norms"
nor make sense of determinate conceptual contents.
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g) 6!e t!ird #or) o# t!e ;n!app- <on"cio"ne"", t!og! lti)atel- n"cce""#l a"
a /a- o# reconciling a conception o# deter)inatel- content#l )erel- particlar
"el#5con"cio"ne"" /it! a co))it)ent to it" t!orog!5going dependence on an
tterl- independent ni7er"al, doe" ac!ie7e a genine ontological tran"#or)ation
t!at /ill trn ot to be i)portant later. (or in"o#ar a" it "cceed" in "acri#icing
it"el#, in de#erring it" at!orit- and re"pon"ibilit- to t!at o# t!e )ediator, it "!o/"
in actal concrete practice t!at it doe" not identi#- /it! t!i" actal, particlar
ani)al t!at it ta1e" it"el# to be. 4at!er, b- t!e rennciation o# it" particlarit-,
t!i" #or) o# "el#5con"cio"ne"" con"i"t" in identi#-ing one"el# /it! an ideal t!at
one i" #or one"el# rat!er t!an /it! /!at one actall- i" in one"el#.
Onl- t!rog! t!i" actual "acri#ice cold it de)on"trate t!i" "el#5
rennciation. (or onl- t!erein doe" t!e deception 7ani"! /!ic! lie" in t!e
inner ac1no/ledg)ent o# gratitde t!rog! !eart, "enti)ent, and tonge,
an ac1no/ledg)ent /!ic! indeed di"clai)" all po/er pertaining to it"
o/n independent e:i"tence, a"cribing it all to a gi#t #ro) abo7e, bt /!ic!
in t!i" 7er- di"clai)er, !old" on to it" o/n particlar e:i"tence, doe" "o
ot/ardl- in t!e po""e""ion" it doe" not "rrender, in/ardl- in t!e
con"cio"ne"" o# t!e deci"ion i# !a" it"el# )ade, and in t!e con"cio"ne""
o# it" content /!ic! it !a" it"el# deter)ined, /!ic! it !a" not e:c!anged
#or one co)ing #ro) ot"ide, /!ic! la"t /old #ill it p /it! /!at i"
)eaningle"" #or it. G229H
6!e "tor- o# Self-Consciousness begin" /it! an accont o# t!e )o"t pri)iti7e #or) o#
essential "el#5con"cio"ne"": 3a"ter-. 6!e #inal #or) o# t!e ;n!app- <on"cio"ne""
repre"ent" progre"" in t!e pro&ect o# "el#5con"tittion and "el#5de7elop)ent t!rog! "el#5
nder"tanding, e7en t!og! it "till concei7e" o# it"el# according to t!e alienated )odel o#
n@ali#ied independence and dependence, and e7en t!og! t!e "acri#icing con"cio"ne""
i", for it"el#, t!e dependent pole o# a #nda)entall- alienated "trctre o# "el#5
con"cio"ne"". (or t!e le""on t!at e)erge", #or ", i" one concerning
6!i" unity o# ob&ecti7it- and being5#or5"el#, /!ic! lie" in t!e Iotion o# action, and
/!ic! t!ere#ore beco)e" #or con"cio"ne"" e""ence and object...t!at in principle
action i" onl- reall- action /!en it i" t!e action o# a particlar indi7idal.G230H
2ccordingl-, /e trn or attention #ro) t!e conception con"cio"ne"" !a" o# it" self to
t!e conception it !a" o# it" agency. 6!e #inal #or) o# "el#5con"cio"ne"" con"idered !a"
/on t!rog! to an appreciation o# t!e e""entiall- social c!aracter o# "el#5con"cio"
indi7idalit-, /!ic! /a" e:plained to us alread- in t!e di"c""ion o# reciprocal
recognition earl- in Self-Consciousness. In !eason, t!i" cle /ill be elaborated into a
#ll5blo/n "ocial )etap!-"ic" o# agenc- and 8"o) o# indi7idalit-.
!) .e /ill "ee !ere a "-nt!e"i" o# t!e #ir"t t!ree "ection" o# t!e boo1 8Consciousness,
Self-Consciousness, and !eason). 2t it" center i" t!e idea o# a c-cle o#
perception, t!og!t, and action, /!ic! i" at once t!e actali9ation o# an indi7idal
"el#5con"cio"ne"" and t!e proce"" b- /!ic! conceptal content" are deter)ined
8#ro) t!e pro"pecti7e point o# 7ie/, )ade )ore deter)inate, and #ro) t!e
retro"pecti7e point o# 7ie/ )ade )ore e:plicit t!rog! t!e proce"" o# e:pre""ing
/!at /a" all along i)plicit b- actali9ing t!at potential).
?) 0: 2genc-
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a) 6!e ne:t "c! piece articlating and #illing5in t!e pictre o# t!e tran"cendental
condition" o# t!e deter)inate content#lne"" o# conceptal nor)" co)e" in t!e
treat)ent o# intentional agenc- in !eason. .!at it i" #or a per#or)ance to be
mine in t!e "en"e o# being my doing, i" #or )e to be in a di"tincti7e /a-
responsible #or it. (or t!at to be tre, it )"t be po""ible to nder"tand )e a"
!a7ing a "pecial 1ind o# authority o7er /!at !appen". 0t t!at at!orit- i"
ob7io"l- an-t!ing bt total. In acting I a) al"o responsible to !o/ t!ing"
actall- aret!e conditions in /!ic! I act, "o)e generall- n1no/n to )eand
to t!e conse$uences t!at actall- en"e, "o)e generall- npredictable b- )e. 6!e
o7erall conceptal c!allenge being addre""ed b- t!e allegorical di"c""ion" o#
7ario" #or)" o# practical "el#5con"cio"ne"" in !eason i" !o/ to nder"tand t!e
con"tellation o# at!orit- and re"pon"ibilit- /it!in /!ic! intentional agenc- i"
intelligible, according to t!e categor- o# freedom, and not "o)e #or) or ot!er o#
independence.
b) 6!e large proble) t!at begin" to e)erge in t!i" "ection, and /!ic! /ill be /it! "
t!rog!ot t!e di"c""ion o# !eason, i" !o/ to reconcile t/o di##erent role" t!at
indi7idal "el#5con"cio"ne"" pla-". On t!e one !and, eac! indi7idal "el#5
con"cio"ne"" i" dependent on, in t!e "en"e o# responsible to, "o)et!ing ot!er
t!an it"el#, in bot! it" work on t!ing" 8/!ic! !a7e natre") and it" recognition b-
ot!er" 8/!ic! !a7e !i"torie"). It i" bond b- nor)", and in being a""e""ed
according to t!e) i" "peci#icall- recogni9ed, it" at!orit- ac1no/ledged. On t!e
ot!er !and, indi7idal "el#5con"cio"ne"" i" independent in t!at it i" responsible
for a""e""ing, authoritative in, "peci#icall- recogni9ing ot!er". 2part #ro) it"
recogni9ing and a""e""ing acti7it-, t!ere are no "el7e", no "ocial "b"tance, and no
binding ni7er"al" 8deter)inate nor)" or concept"). 6!i" latter di)en"ion o#
independence e:pre""e" t!e certainty o# "el#5con"cio"ne"", /!at t!ing",
inclding it"el#, are for it. 6!e #or)er di)en"ion o# dependence e:pre""e" t!e
truth o# "el#5con"cio"ne"", /!at t!ing", inclding it"el#, are in t!e)"el7e". 6!e
conceptal c!allenge i" to #ind a co!erent /a- o# concei7ing t!i" dal "trctre,
according to /!ic! "el#5con"cio"ne"" a" indi7idal i" bot! con"trained and
con"training, bot! con"titted and con"titting, bot! a""e""ed and a""e""ing.
c) 6at>Handlng
d) ,or"at9>2b"ic!t
5) Jic1 !i"tor- o# t!e p!ilo"op!- o# agenc-:
a) 2ri"totle #orge" t!e connection /it! practical rea"oning.
b) =)pirici"t tradition: 6!e i""e /a" one o# free will 8t!og!t o# a" a condition o#
re"pon"ibilit-). (reedo)>deter)ini") /a" nder"tood in ter)" o# alethic
modality: deter)ini") /a" a )atter o# necessity, #reedo) o# possibility o# doing
ot!er/i"e.
c) Kantian tradition: 6!e i""e i" directl- one o# responsibility. .!at /e are
re"pon"ible #or i" by definition done #reel-. 86!i" i" one o# t!e principal le""on" o#
t!e "econd <riti@e.) Here t!e i""e i" one o# deontic normative )odalitie".
d) 0ot! "ide" accept t!e "logan 'Io re"pon"ibilit- /it!ot #reedo).*
e) Hegel, o# cor"e, i" in t!e Kantian tradition.
#) .ittgen"tein belong" to t!e nor)ati7e tradition, rat!er t!an t!e e)pirici"t one, on
t!i" i""e.
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g) $o doe" 2n"co)be.
!) Fa7id"on goe" bot! /a-": !e "ee" t!at t!e i""e i" nor)ati7e, bt i" a !)ean
abot practical rea"oning.
i) 6!o)p"on and 3cFo/ell bot! co)e ot o# 2n"co)be.
6)
' e l e c t i v e ( i s t o r y o f ) o n c e p t i o n s o f
A g e n c y
. i t t g e n " t e i n
= ) p i r i c i " t "
H e g e l
2 r i " t o t l e
K a n t
2 n " c o ) b e
F a 7 i d " o n
6 ! o ) p " o n 3 c F o / e l l
*" #o 'ides of the )oncept of Action+ #he unity and disparity that action
involves
a) .!en !e introdce" t!e topic in t!e "hilosophy of !ight, Hegel "a-" t!at t!e
#ir"t deter)ination o# action GHandlngH i" t!at 'it )"t be 1no/n in it"
e:ternalit- a" )ine,* G4P 113H
b) 6!e "en"e in /!ic! t!e action i" mine, it" o/nedne"", i" a normative one. It i"
a /a- o# bringing into 7ie/ a di"tincti7e con"tellation o# coordinate responsibility
and authority: responsibility for a performance, predicated on authority over
it.
c) 6!e p"!ot o# t!e di"c""ion" o# Consciousness and Self-Consciousness !a"
been t!at /e )"t nder"tand t!e "ort o# at!orit- c!aracteri"tic o# agenc- in
order to nder"tand bot! t!e /a- or e)pirical &dg)ent" are re"pon"ible #or t!eir
correctne"" to t!e ob&ecti7e /orld t!e- t!ereb- cont a" being abot
8ac1no/ledge t!e at!orit- o#), and t!e "el#5con"cio" indi7idal "b&ect" o#
t!eoretical and practical co))it)ent", /!o ac1no/ledge and e:erci"e 7ario"
1ind" o# conceptall- articlated at!orit-. 6!e t!eoretical c!allenge con#ronting
all o# t!e #or)" o# practical "el#5con"cio"ne"" can7a""ed in !eason i" to
nder"tand !o/ t!e at!orit- o7er /!at !appen" t!at i" con"titti7e o# agenc- can
be genuine /it!ot being total. 6!e )odel o# at!orit- a" constitutive at!orit-
introdced to " b- t!e allegor- o# 3a"ter- "ee" attribtion" o# independence
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8at!orit-) a" inco)patible /it! ac1no/ledg)ent o# coordinate dependence
8re"pon"ibilit-) t!at li)it" t!at at!orit-. ;ntil a better )odel i" de7eloped, t!e
#act o# /!at Hegel call" the first division ,-ruch. in action, namely that
beteen hat is purposed and hat is accomplished in the realm of
existence,*
2
con"tantl- t!reaten" to )a1e practical "el#5con"cio"ne"" 'become a
riddle to itself, because the conse%uences of its deed are for it not the deeds
themselves.*
3

d) 2t t!i" point, Hegel )o7e" t!e @e"tion p a le7el, #ro) concern /it! t!e
contra"t bet/een di##erent a"pect" o# a doing to an i""e abot identit-5t!rog!5
di##erence 8!i" #a7orite conceptal pla-grond). 6!e ba"ic proble) /it! /!ic!
t!e )odel o# at!orit- a" 3a"ter- 8independence a" con"titti7e at!orit-) #ind"
it"el# nable to cope i" t!at o# bringing toget!er into an intelligible /!ole t/o
a"pect" o# t!e concept o# intentional action t!at "tand in at lea"t apparent ten"ion
/it! one anot!er. 6!e"e are:
i) t!e nit- o# an action, a" it de7elop" #ro) en7i"aged prpo"e to
co)pleted per#or)ance, and
ii) 't!e distinction and dichotomy t!at lie in action a" "c! and "o
con"titte a "tbborn actalit- con#ronting action.*
?
e) 6!e 'nit- and nece""it-* o# an action are /!at con"titte it" identit-. '6!e
nece""it- o# t!e action con"i"t" in t!e #act t!at prpo"e i" related "i)pl- to actalit-, and
t!i" nit- i" t!e Iotion o# action.*
5

2ction alter" not!ing and oppo"e" not!ing. It i" t!e pre #or) o# a tran"ition #ro)
a "tate o# not being "een to one o# being "een, and t!e content /!ic! i" brog!t
ot into t!e da-lig!t and di"pla-ed i" not!ing el"e bt /!at t!i" action alread- i"
in it"el#.
6
/ote that hat is at issue here is to forms of one content. 0nderstanding that
notion of content re%uires understanding it as essentially capable of taking both
forms, and, indeed, as intelligible in principle only in virtue of the process of
transition from the one form to the other. 6!i" expressive proce"" i" t!e c-cle o#
perception5t!og!t5and5action.
'2ction "i)pl- tran"late" an initiall- i)plicit being into a being t!at i" )ade e:plicitE.*
L
6!e Iotion o# t!i" "p!ere re@ire" t!at t!e"e 7ario" a"pect" be gra"ped in "c! a
/a- t!at t!e content in t!e) re)ain" t!e "a)e /it!ot an- di"tinction, /!et!er
bet/een indi7idalit- and being in general,
or bet/een =nd a" again"t indi7idalit- a" an original natre,
or bet/een =nd and t!e gi7en realit-D
or bet/een t!e )ean" and t!at realit- a" an ab"olte =nd,
or bet/een t!e realit- brog!t abot b- t!e agent a" again"t
2
"hilosophy of !ight M11?N.
3
"henomenology M365.
?
"henomenology ML93.
5
"henomenology M?08.
6
"henomenology M396.
L
"henomenology M?01. $ee al"o "hilosophy of !ight M109, /!ere 't!e /ill i" t!e "trggle to tran"cend
t!i" barrier G$c!ran1eH, i.e. it i" t!e acti7it- o# translating t!i" content in "o)e /a- or ot!er #ro)
"b&ecti7it- into ob&ecti7it-. 6!e "i)ple identit- o# t!e /ill /it! it"el# in t!i" oppo"ition i" t!e content
/!ic! re)ain" "el#5identical in bot! t!e"e oppo"ite" and indi##erent to t!i" #or)al di"tinction o#
oppo"ition.*
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t!e =nd,
or t!e original natre
or t!e )ean".
8
'6!i" nit- i" t!e tre /or1.*
9

It i" a #nda)ental criterion o# ade@ac- o# an accont o# action t!at it e:plain !o/ it i"
po""ible #or )e to "cceed in actall- ac!ie7ing /!at I intend, in t!e "a)e /a- and #or
t!e "a)e rea"on" t!at it i" a #nda)ental criterion o# ade@ac- o# an accont o# cognition
t!at it e:plain !o/ it i" po""ible #or )e to "cceed in 1no/ing !o/ t!ing" actall- are.
#his amounts to a 'emantic )ondition of the 1ossibility of 2enuine Agency, hich
should be laid alongside the 'emantic )ondition on the 1ossibility of 2enuine
3noledge, ith hich I began my discussion of the Introduction.
#) On t!e ot!er !and,
<on"cio"ne""Ein doing it" /or1, i" a/are o# t!e antit!e"i" o# doing and beingE
6!i" disparity bet/een Iotion and realit-, /!ic! lie" in it" e""ence, i" learnt b-
con"cio"ne"" #ro) e:perience in it" /or1D in /or1, t!ere#ore, con"cio"ne""
beco)e" /!at it i" in trt!Et!i" Gi" t!eH #nda)ental contradiction in!erent in
/or1E.
10
(ailre:2genc- :: =rror:Kno/ledge. 6!e"e are t!e t/o a"pect" o# experience,
bot! e""ential to t!e c-cle o# perception, t!og!t, and action.
6!e "i)ple original natre no/ "plit" p into t!e di"tinction /!ic! action i)plie".
2ction i" pre"ent at #ir"t...a" =nd, and !ence oppo"ed to a realit- alread- gi7en.
6!e "econd )o)ent i" t!e )o7e)ent o# t!e =nd...!ence t!e idea o# t!e tran"ition
it"el#, or )ean". 6!e t!ird )o)ent i"...t!e ob&ect, /!ic! i" no longer in t!e #or)
o# an =nd directl- 1no/n b- t!e agent to be !i" o/n, bt a" brog!t ot into t!e
lig!t o# da- and !a7ing #or !i) t!e #or) o# an Oot!erO.
11
<on"cio"ne"", t!ere#ore, t!rog! it" e:perience in /!ic! it "!old !a7e #ond it"
trt!, !a" reall- beco)e a riddle to it"el#, t!e con"e@ence" o# it" deed are #or it
not t!e deed" t!e)"el7e". .!at be#all" it i", #or it, not t!e e:perience o# /!at it i"
in it"el#, t!e tran"ition i" not a )ere alteration o# t!e #or) o# t!e "a)e content and
e""ence, pre"ented no/ a" t!e content and e""ence, and again a" t!e ob&ect or
Got/ardl-H be!eld e""ence o# it"el#.
12
g)
t
4" #o 5odels of the 0nity and 6isparity that Action 7ssentially Involves
a) One natral /a- to t!in1 abot t!e a"pect" o# nit- and di"parit- t!at action
e""entiall- in7ol7e" i" in ter)" o# t!e di"tinction bet/een "cce"" and #ailre.
Fi"parit- o# prpo"e and ac!ie7e)ent i" #ailre 8in acco)pli"!ing /!at one
intended to acco)pli"!)D identit- o# prpo"e and ac!ie7e)ent i" "cce"" 8in
acco)pli"!ing /!at one intended to acco)pli"!). $ince one cannot nder"tand
/!at intentional action i" /it!ot nder"tanding t!at "c! action" are e""entiall-,
8
"henomenology M?00.
9
"henomenology M?09.
10
"henomenology M?065L.
11
"henomenology M?00.
12
"henomenology M365.
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and not &"t accidentall-, "b&ect to a""e"")ent a" "cce""#l or #ailed, it #ollo/"
t!at one cannot gra"p t!e concept o# intentional action /it!ot i)plicitl-
ac1no/ledging t!e t/o a"pect" o# t!at concept t!at Hegel di"tingi"!e".
b) On a natral /a- o# rendering t!e"e clai)", t!e relation" bet/een t!e a"pect"
o# nit- and di##erence t!at t!e concept o# action in7ol7e" !a" it t!at the %uestion
of hether those aspects are reali&ed is to be ansered differently for each
particular performance. 6!at i" to "a- t!at the relation beteen the aspects is
understood as local, contingent, and disjunctive.
It i" local in t!at t!e a""e"")ent o# "cce"" or #ailre i" )ade #or each
action, one b- one. It e:!ibit" identit- o# 8content o#) prpo"e and
ac!ie7e)ent in ca"e it "cceed", and di##erence o# 8content o#) prpo"e and
ac!ie7e)ent in ca"e it #ail". 6!e possibility o# di"parit- and t!e ideal o#
identit- o# content bet/een prpo"e and ac!ie7e)ent are ni7er"al, bt t!o"e
#eatre" are eac! actualized onl- in "o)e action".
It i" contingent /!et!er an- particlar action "cceed" or #ail"#or
in"tance, /!et!er, a" I intended, t!e ball goe" t!rog! t!e !oop.
2nd t!e t/o a"pect" are disjunctively related 8indeed, related b- exclusive
di"&nction) beca"e #or an- gi7en action either t!e action "cceed", and "o
e:!ibit" identit- o# content o# prpo"e and content o# ac!ie7e)ent, or it #ail",
and "o e:!ibit" t!eir di"parit-. I%ll call t!i" "ort o# accont an 'P<F* 7ie/ o#
t!e identit-5in5di##erence t!at "trctre" t!e concept o# action.
c) Hegel%" 7ie/ o# t!e identit-5in5di##erence t!at "trctre" t!e concept o# action i"
rat!er global, necessary, and conjunctive. 2""e"")ent o# "cce"" or #ailre in t!e
ordinar- "en"e/!at I%ll tendentio"l- call '7lgar* "cce"" or #ailrei", i# not
co)pletel- irrele7ant to nder"tanding t!e nit- and di"parit- t!at action in7ol7e", at
an- rate "o)et!ing t!at co)e" into t!e "tor- onl- )c! later. 2ccording to a BI<
accont:
every action 8Cgloball-%),
as an action 8Cnece""aril-%)
both 8Ccon&ncti7el-%) simply translates "o)et!ing inner or i)plicit into
"o)et!ing oter or e:plicit, !ence e:!ibiting t!e nit- o# action and t!e identit-
o# content in t/o di##erent #or)", and nece""aril- involves an actual disparity
beteen purpose and achievement 8't!e di"tinction t!at action in7ol7e"*).
On t!i" 7ie/, if e:!ibiting t!e identit- o# content bet/een prpo"e and ac!ie7e)ent
t!at i" t!e nit- o# action i" in "o)e "en"e succeeding, and e:!ibiting a di"parit-
bet/een t!e) i" in "o)e "en"e failing, t!en in order to nder"tand t!e BI< approac!
to t!e identit-5t!rog!5di"parit- o# action /e )"t appreciate a "en"e in /!ic! every
action "cceed" and anot!er in /!ic! every action #ail", regardle"" o# it" "cce"" or
#ailre in t!e 7lgar "en"e. 2nd /e )"t co)e to "ee t!e"e a" t/o "ide" o# one coin:
a" reciprocall- "en"e5dependent concept" pla-ing e""ential role" in t!e concept o#
intentional action.
d) Ke-: 8)6 accounts take for granted a notion of determinate content, hich
can be exhibited indifferently by intentions and the performances to hich they
give rise. 6!" I can intend to pt t!e ball t!rog! t!e !oop 8intend t!at I pt t!e
ball t!rog! t!e !oop), and I can pt t!e ball t!rog! t!e !oop. 6!e notion o#
a""e"")ent" o# 7lgar success and failure, in ter)" o# /!ic! bot! t!e unity and t!e
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disparity o# intention and acco)pli"!)ent are de#ined in P<F approac!e", depend"
on t!e po""ibilit- o# identi#-ing and indi7idating t!e contents o# intention" and
ac!ie7e)ent" antecedently to t!e proce""e" b- /!ic! t!e- are related in intentional
action "ee1ing to actualize t!o"e intention" in t!e #or) o# ac!ie7e)ent". 0t
(egel9s overall claim is that that notion of determinate conceptual contents is
ultimately intelligible only in terms of the process of determining such contents
)a1ing t!e) more deter)inateb- "ee1ing t!e ob&ecti7e #l#ill)ent o# "b&ecti7e
practical co))it)ent".
9) Intentional and )onse%uential 'pecifications of Actions:
a) Hegel o##er" " "trong "tate)ent" o# t/o 7ie/" abot action t!at "tar1l-
contra"t and "tand in at lea"t apparent ten"ion /it! one anot!er:
a broadl- behaviorist, externalist 7ie/, /!ic! identi#ie" and indi7idate"
action" according to /!at i" actall- done, t!e per#or)ance t!at i" prodced
8c#. 2n"co)be%": 'I do /!at !appen",*), and
an intentionalist, internalist 7ie/, /!ic! identi#ie" and indi7idate"
action" b- t!e agent%" intention or purpose in nderta1ing t!e).
b) 2ccording to t!e first vie, t!e inner can onl- be nder"tood in ter)" o# it" oter
e:pre""ion, "o t!at it )a1e" no "en"e to t!in1 o# intention" a" "tate" /!o"e content i"
related onl- contingentl- to, and "o can di7erge radicall- #ro), t!at o# t!e per#or)ance"
to /!ic! t!e- gi7e ri"e. '2ction "i)pl- tran"late" an initiall- i)plicit being into a being
t!at i" )ade e:plicitE<on"cio"ne"" )"t act )erel- in order t!at /!at it i" in it"el#
)a- beco)e e:plicit #or itE2n indi7idal cannot 1no/ /!at !e i" ntil !e !a" )ade
!i)"el# a realit- t!rog! action.*
13
'6!e deed G6atH i" t!e actal "el#,*
1?
t!e agent 'onl-
get" to 1no/E!i" =nd, #ro) t!e deed.*
15
'6!e deed doe" a/a- /it! t!e ine:pre""ibilit-
o# /!at i" O)eantO.*
16
I# t!e content o# t!e inner intention i" "ettled b- /!at i" tre o# t!e
actal e:ternal per#or)ance t!at e:pre""e" it, t!en it i" epi"te)icall- a7ailable, e7en to
t!e agent, onl- retro"pecti7el-. 8Here one )ig!t t!in1 o# ,elle)an%" 7ie/ o# intention",
in or o/n da-.)
6!ere#ore, #eeling" o# e:altation or la)entation, or repentance are altoget!er
ot o# place. (or all t!at "ort o# t!ing "te)" #ro) a )ind /!ic! i)agine" a
content and an in5it"el# /!ic! are di##erent #ro) t!e original natre o# t!e
indi7idal and t!e actal carr-ing5ot o# it in t!e real /orld. .!ate7er it i"
t!at t!e indi7idal doe", and /!ate7er !appen" to !i), t!at !e !a" done
!i)"el#, and !e is t!at !i)"el#. He can !a7e onl- t!e con"cio"ne"" o# t!e
"i)ple tran"#erence of himself #ro) t!e nig!t o# po""ibilit- into t!e da-lig!t o#
t!e pre"ent, #ro) t!e abstract in-itself into t!e "igni#icance o# actual being.
1L
6!e anal-"i" o# t!i" being into intention" and "btletie" o# t!at "ort, /!ereb- t!e
actal )an, i.e. !i" deed, i" to be e:plained a/a- again in ter)" o# a being t!at i"
onl- O)eantO, &"t a" t!e indi7idal !i)"el# e7en )a- create #or !i)"el# "pecial
13
"henomenology M?01.
1?
"henomenology M?6?.
15
"henomenology M?01.
16
"henomenology M322.
1L
"henomenology M?0?.
0rando) 11 5>1?>201?
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intention" concerning !i" actalit-, all t!i" )"t be le#t to t!e la9ine"" o# )ere
con&ectre.
18

2 #inal inde: pa""age e:pre""ing t!i" per"pecti7e e:plicitl- )aintain" t!at t!e
point i" not a##ected b- ac1no/ledging t!e po""ibilit- o# 7lgar #ailre:
(ro) /!at !a" no/ been "aid, /e )a- learn /!at to t!in1 o# a )an /!o,
/!en bla)ed #or !i" "!ortco)ing", or, it )a- be, !i" di"creditable act",
appeal" to t!e 8pro#e""edl-) e:cellent intention" and "enti)ent" o# t!e inner
"el# !e di"tingi"!e" t!ere#ro). 6!ere certainl- )a- be indi7idal ca"e" /!ere
t!e )alice o# ot/ard circ)"tance" #r"trate" /ell5)eant de"ign", and
di"trb" t!e e:ection o# t!e be"t5laid plan". 0t in general e7en !ere t!e
e""ential nit- bet/een in/ard and ot/ard i" )aintained. .e are t!"
&"ti#ied in "a-ing t!at a )an i" /!at !e doe"D and t!e l-ing 7anit- /!ic!
con"ole" it"el# /it! t!e #eeling o# in/ard e:cellence )a- be con#ronted /it!
t!e /ord" o# t!e Bo"pel: O0- t!eir #rit" -e "!all 1no/ t!e).O 6!at grand
"a-ing applie" pri)aril- in a )oral and religio" a"pect, bt it al"o !old" good
in re#erence to per#or)ance" in art and "cienceE i# a dab o# a painter, or a
poeta"ter, "oot!e t!e)"el7e" b- t!e conceit t!at t!eir !ead i" #ll o# !ig!
ideal", t!eir con"olation i" a poor oneD and i# t!e- in"i"t on being &dged not
b- t!eir actal /or1" bt b- t!eir pro&ect", /e )a- "a#el- re&ect t!eir
preten"ion" a" n#onded and n)eaning.
19
Hegel /ant" to bring into 7ie/ a "en"e in /!ic! a bad painting, poe), or no7el cannot
be nder"tood a" t!e botc!ed e:ection o# a #ine ai) or plan, bt )"t be nder"tood
rat!er a" "!o/ing exactly /!at it" creator actall- intendedhowever it )ig!t "ee) to
it" at!or.
20
Q"t !o/ /e are to nder"tand t!i" in t!e lig!t o# t!e ac1no/ledged
po""ibilit- o# "c! contingencie" a" "lip" o# t!e br"! re)ain" to be "een. 0t t!e
per"pecti7e Hegel "ee1" to pt in place !ere i" not &"t a ca"al literar- #lori"! or a
)i"ta1e /e are e7entall- to "ee t!rog!. It i" an ab"oltel- central and e""ential #eatre
o# t!e )odel o# expression)a1ing t!e i)plicit e:plicitt!at pla-" "c! a crcial role
in "trctring !i" nder"tanding o# t!e relation" bet/een t!e "b&ecti7e and t!e ob&ecti7e
in bot! action and cognition.
c) 0t 6!ere are 't/o a"pect" po""e""ed b- t!e practical con"cio"ne"", intention
and deed 8/!at i" O)eantO or intended b- t!e deed and t!e deed it"el#),*
21
and eac!
)"t be gi7en it" de. 6!e ot!er i" t!e internalist, intentionalist perspective:
d) It i" t!e rig!t o# t!e o# t!e /ill to recogni9e a" it" action GHandlngH, and to
accept responsibility #or, onl- t!o"e a"pect" o# it" deed G6atH /!ic! it 1ne/ to be
pre"ppo"ed /it!in it" end, and /!ic! /ere pre"ent in it" purpose G,or"at9HI
can be )ade accountable #or a deed onl- i# my will was responsible #or itthe
right of knowledge.
22

=l"e/!ere
23
Hegel )a1e" t!e "a)e point nder t!e !eading o# t!e 'rig!t o# intention*:
18
"henomenology M322.
19
%ncyclopedia M1?0.
20
4obert Pippin o##er" a nice di"c""ion o# t!i" per"pecti7e in !i" e""a- 'Hegel%" Practical 4eali"):
4ational 2genc- a" =t!ical Pi#e* Gre#. Gpre"ented in 3Rn"ter, (ebrar- 2003HH.
21
"henomenology M319.
22
!echtsphilosophie M11L.
23
%ncyclopedia M505. $ee al"o "hilosophy of !ight M120. (or )- prpo"e" !ere t!e di##erence bet/een
t!e rig!t o# 1no/ledge and t!e rig!t o# intention do not )atter.
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$o #ar a" t!e action co)e" into i))ediate toc! /it! e:i"tence, )- part in it i" to
t!i" e:tent #or)al, t!at e:ternal e:i"tence i" al"o independent o# t!e agent. 6!i"
e:ternalit- can per7ert !i" action and bring to lig!t "o)et!ing el"e t!an la- in it.
Io/, t!og! an- alteration a" "c!, /!ic! i" "et on #oot b- t!e "b&ect"O action, i"
it" deed G6atH, "till t!e "b&ect doe" not #or t!at rea"on recogni9e it a" it" action
GHandlngH, bt onl- ad)it" a" it" o/n t!at e:i"tence in t!e deed /!ic! la- in it"
1no/ledge and /ill, /!ic! /a" it" prpo"e. Onl- #or t!at doe" it !old it"el#
re"pon"ible.
2?
Indeed, di"tingi"!ing /it!in t!e action "o)e ele)ent" #or /!ic! t!e agent i" re"pon"ible
#ro) ot!er" #or /!ic! t!e agent i" not re"pon"ible i" one o# t!e ac!ie7e)ent" o# )odernit-:
6!e heroic "el#5con"cio"ne"" 8a" in ancient tragedie" li1e t!at o# Oedip") !a"
not -et progre""ed #ro) it" nallo-ed "i)plicit- to re#lect on t!e di"tinction
bet/een deed G6atH and action GHandlngH, bet/een t!e e:ternal e7ent and t!e
prpo"e and 1no/ledge o# t!e circ)"tance", or to anal-"e t!e con"e@ence"
)intel-, bt accept" re"pon"ibilit- #or t!e deed in it" entiret-.
25
#he distinction beteen #at and (andlung i" t!e di"tinction bet/een /!at i" done a" an
actal e7ent, per#or)ance, or 8a" /e%ll "ee i" )o"t i)portant to Hegel) proce"""o)et!ing
t!at !appen"and t!o"e #eatre" in 7irte o# /!ic! it i" a doing"o)et!ing nor)ati7el-
i)ptable to t!e agent. 6!i" latter i" /!at Hegel call" 't!e #ir"t deter)inate c!aracteri"tic o#
an action: t!at 'in it" e:ternalit- it )"t be 1no/n to )e a" )- action*
26

What makes hat is done (the deed" mine, that is, an action, rather than !ust something
that happens, is its relation to a purpose. (or t!e concept o# action inclde" 't!e rig!t t!at
t!e content o# t!e action a" carried ot in i))ediate e:i"tence "!all be in principle )ine, t!at
t!" t!e action "!all be t!e prpo"e G,or"at9H o# t!e "b&ecti7e /ill.*
2L
6!e pa""age"
concerning t!e identit- o# content o# t!e oter deed and t!e inner "tate it e:pre""e" re!ear"ed
abo7e in7o1ed t!e intention G2b"ic!tH e:pre""ed, rat!er t!an t!e purpose. 'o
corresponding (at least roughly" to the #at:(andlung distinction in (egel9s account is
an Absicht:;orsat& distinction.
28
6!e content o# t!e #eatre o# an action t!at Hegel call"
it" Cprpo"e% need not e:tend to e7er-t!ing t!e de7eloped deed contain", /!ile t!e content o#
2?
%ncyclopedia M50?.
25
"hilosophy of !ight M118N. G00: I /ill later clai) t!at t!i" 'contraction "trateg-* i" "o)et!ing t!at i"
to be o7erco)e e7entall-, and replaced b- an 'e:pan"ion "trateg-*, /!ic! rein"tate" t!e !eroic 8no/
edel)Rtig) "en"e o# re"pon"ibilit-, bt /it! an e:panded "b&ect o# re"pon"ibilit-. 6!at i" /!- t!e
di"c""ion in t!e "hilosophy of !ight i" e:plicitl- #lagged in M11L 8and e"peciall- it" N"at9) a" pertaining
to finite action. 6!e #inal "tor-, retailed in t!e ne:t c!apter o# 2$O6, i" abot action concei7ed nder t!e
"peclati7e categor- o# infinity.H
26
"hilosophy of !ight M113.
2L
"hilosophy of !ight M11?.
28
6!e pa""age #ro) "hilosophy of !ight M11? &"t @oted contine", la-ing ot t!e general otline" o# t!e
clai)" t!at )"t be interpreted to )a1e "en"e o# t!e ,or"at9>2b"ic!t di"tinction, connecting it /it! t!e
#rt!er notion" o# /el#are 8da" .o!l) and t!e good 8da" Bte):
8b) 6!e particlar a"pect o# t!e action i" it" inner content 8S) a" I a) a/are o# it in it"
general c!aracterD )- a/arene"" o# t!i" general c!aracter con"titte" t!e /ort! o# t!e action and
t!e rea"on I t!in1 good to do itin "!ort )- Intention. 8T) It" content i" )- "pecial ai), t!e ai)
o# )- particlar, )erel- indi7idal, e:i"tence, i.e. .el#are.
8c) 6!i" content 8a" "o)et!ing /!ic! i" in/ard and /!ic! -et at t!e "a)e ti)e i" rai"ed to it"
ni7er"alit- a" to ab"olte ob&ecti7it-) i" t!e ab"olte end o# t!e /ill, t!e Bood/it! t!e
oppo"ition in t!e "p!ere o# re#lection, o# "b&ecti7e ni7er"alit-, /!ic! i" no/ /ic1edne"" and
no/ con"cience.
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t!e #eatre o# an action t!at Hegel call" it" Cintention% doe" e:tend to e7er-t!ing t!e
de7eloped deed e:pre""ing it contain". 6!e di"tinction a)ong #eatre" o# t!e deed t!at i"
indced b- t!e prpo"e i" /!at deter)ine" t!e deed a" t!e agent%" doing, in t!e nor)ati7e
"en"e o# being "o)et!ing t!e agent i" responsible #or. &hat t!e agent t!ereb- beco)e"
re"pon"ible #or 8doing) i" t!e /!ole deed 8/!at i" done). 2nd t!at #ll- de7eloped deed
re7eal" an intention t!at e:tend" be-ond /!at i" )erel- C)eant% or prpo"ed.
e)
10) 6avidsonian approach to action:
a) 2t t!e )o"t ba"ic le7el, I t!in1 (egel9s account of agency ought to be understood as
having a 6avidsonian structure. 8$o)eone /!o !a" pr"ed t!i" line o# t!og!t in "o)e
detailt!og! "o)e/!at di##erentl- t!an I "!alli" 3ic!ael Jante, /!o"e Ber)an boo1
'egels 'andlungsbegriff !a" no/ been tran"lated into =ngli"!, a" 'egel(s Concept of
Action.)
6!ere are #i7e ba"ic ele)ent" o# Fa7id"on%" t!eor- o# action t!at "ee) to )e !elp#l in
beginning to nder"tand Hegel%". Fa7id"on "tart" b- de7eloping a /a- o# tal1ing abot
e7ent" 8"c! a" t!e per#or)ance" t!at re"lt #ro) e:erci"e" o# agenc-) according to /!ic!:
<" =ne and the same event can be described or specified in many ays.
(rt!er,
2) =ne important ay of identifying or singling out an event is in terms of its
causal consequences.
6!" )o7ing one%" #inger, #lipping t!e "/itc!, trning on t!e lig!t, and alerting t!e brglar
can all cont a" "peci#ication" o# one "ingle e7ent. 2" t!e e##ect" o# an e7ent n#old, eac!
ne/ concentric ripple "rronding it )a1e" a7ailable ne/ /a-" o# "peci#-ing it b- t!e
ca"al contribtion it )ade to t!e occrrence o# those later e7ent". It i" "i)pl- not "ettled
-et /!et!er t!e in7e"t)ent I )ade -e"terda- /ill e7entall- be identi#iable a" 't!e /i"e"t
#inancial deci"ion I e7er )ade*, or 't!e )o"t #ooli"!E*, or 8)ore probabl-), "o)et!ing le""
dra)atic in bet/een. .e%ll &"t !a7e to a/ait t!e re"lt". Fa7id"on call" t!e /a- t!e
potential de"cription" o# an e7ent e:pand /it! t!e pa""age o# ti)e 't!e accordion e##ect.*
>" 'ome, but not all, of the descriptions of an action may be privileged in that they
are ones under hich it is intentional.
(lipping t!e "/itc! and trning on t!e lig!t /ere intentional, /!ile alerting t!e brglar 8o#
/!o) I /a" na/are) /a" not. 0-ing a bond i""ed b- co)pan- UAN /a" intentional,
/!ile b-ing a bond i""ed b- a co)pan- t!at /old go ban1rpt t!e #ollo/ing /ee1,
/!ic! )ig!t be a de"cription o# t!e 7er- "a)e e7ent, /old not !a7e been intentional.
?) What makes an event, performance, or process an action, something done, is
that it is intentional under some description.
2lerting t!e brglar and b-ing t!e bond o# a "oon5to5be5ban1rpt co)pan- are t!ing"
geninel- done, e7en t!og! t!e- /ere not intentional nder t!o"e de"cription". (or t!e-
were intentional nder ot!er de"cription" o# t!e "a)e e7ent: trning on t!e lig!t and b-ing
an UAN bond. 6!e per#or)ance i" an action nder all it" de"cription" and "peci#ication",
inclding all t!e di"tant, n#ore"eeable, con"e@ential one" t!at co)e in nder t!e accordion
principle. 0t /!at makes it an action i" t!at it was intentional nder some "c!
"peci#ication".
5) What distinguishes some descriptions as ones under hich a performance as
intentional is their role as conclusions in processes of practical reasoning.
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6rning on t!e lig!t and b-ing an UAN bond /ere t!ing" I !ad reasons to do, pro7ided b-
ends, purposes, or goals I endor"e, commitments I ac1no/ledge, or values I e)brace. 6!o"e
rea"on" in t!e #or) o# end", prpo"e", goal", co))it)ent", or 7ale" pro7ide premises #or
potential piece" o# practical rea"oning &"ti#-ing t!e practical concl"ion t!at I og!t to
bring abot an e7ent "ati"#-ing a de"cription "c! a" being a trning on o# a lig!t or a b-ing
o# an UAN bondbt not being an alerting o# a brglar or a b-ing o# a bond o# an
incipientl- ban1rpt co)pan-. 6!at "ecring t!e applicabilit- o# those de"cription" i" in t!i"
/a- practicall- &"ti#iable i" /!at )a1e" t!e) t!e one" nder /!ic! /!at I go on to do i"
intentional, and !ence cont" a" an action.
#he structure of this account is %uite different from one that identifies three distinct
kinds of events standing in se%uential causal relations+ prior internal intentions or
states of intending, actions, and conse%uences of those actions. 6!e place o# di"tinct
occrrence" o# intending" and con"e@ence" !a" been ta1en b- di##erent de"cription" o# t!e
one t!ing done: intentional and con"e@ential /a-" o# pic1ing ot t!e "a)e doing. 6!at i"
/!- it )a1e" no "en"e to tal1 abot an intention apart #ro) /!at /a" done intentionall-.
29

.!at @ali#ie" an occrrence a" an action"o)et!ing an agent i" responsible #ori" t!e
e:i"tence o# a pri7ileged "b"et o# "peci#ication". 2nd t!e- are pri7ileged preci"el- b- t!eir
normative relation to t!e agent. $peci#icall-, t!e- are justified b- practical reasons /!o"e
nor)ati7e #orce or 7alidit- t!e agent ac1no/ledge".
b) 5y first interpretive suggestion is that (egel9s ?#at9 refers to the deed done, ith
all of its accordioned descriptions, and that his ?(andlung9 is that same deed as the
agent9s doing, that is, as specifiable by the restricted set of descriptions under hich it
is intentional, and hence something done at all. Here i" a crcial pa""age o# Hegel%" t!at
pt" toget!er a n)ber o# t!e Fa7id"onian t!e"e":
2ction !a" )ltiple conse$uences in "o #ar a" it i" tran"lated into e:ternal
e:i"tenceD #or t!e latter, b- 7irte o# it" conte:t in e:ternal nece""it-, de7elop" in
all direction". 6!e"e con"e@ence", a" t!e shape /!o"e soul i" t!e end to /!ic!
t!e action i" directed, belong to t!e action a" an integral part o# it. 0t t!e action,
a" t!e end tran"lated into t!e e:ternal /orld, i" at t!e "a)e ti)e e:po"ed to
e:ternal #orce" /!ic! attac! to it t!ing" @ite di##erent #ro) /!at it i" #or it"el#,
and i)pel it on into re)ote and alien con"e@ence". 6!e /ill t!" !a" t!e rig!t to
accept responsibility onl- #or t!e #ir"t "et o# con"e@ence", "ince t!e- alone /ere
part o# it" purpose G,or"at9H.
30
=ndor"e)ent o# t!e accordion principle, and "o o# t!e Fa7id"onian principle" 81) and 82), i"
i)plicit in "a-ing t!at t!e action%" con"e@ence", t!e action a" an e:ternal e:i"tence
de7eloping in all direction", are an integral part o# t!e action.
31
6!i" deed i" /!at t!e action
29
'G.He og!t to /ill "o)et!ing great. 0t /e )"t al"o be able to ac!ie7e it, ot!er/i"e t!e /illing i"
ngator-. 6!e larel" o# )ere /illing are dr- lea7e" t!at ne7er /ere green.* G"hilosophy of !ight M12?N.H
30
"hilosophy of !ight M118.
31
,er- )c! t!e "a)e langage i" "ed at "henomenology M6?2:
2ction, in 7irte o# t!e antit!e"i" it e""entiall- contain", i" related to a negati7e o# con"cio"ne"",
to a realit- po""e""ing intrin"ic being. <ontra"ted /it! t!e "i)plicit- o# pre con"cio"ne"", /it!
t!e ab"olte ot!er or i)plicit )ani#oldne"", t!i" realit- i" a plralit- o# circ)"tance" /!ic!
brea1" p and "pread" ot endle""l- in all direction", bac1/ard" into t!eir condition", "ide/a-"
into t!eir connection", #or/ard" in t!eir con"e@ence".
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i" in it"el#. 0t /!at t!e action i" for it"el# i" deter)ined b- t!e "b&ecti7el- en7i"aged end
or goal it "er7e", t!e prpo"e #or /!ic! it i" per#or)ed. In Fa7id"onian ter)", t!e prpo"e
"ettle" t!e "peci#ication" nder /!ic! it i" intentional 8principle 83), /!ic! are t!e one" in
7irte o# /!ic! t!e deed i" recogni9able a" t!e agent%" 8principle 8?)), in t!e "en"e t!at t!e-
are t!e one" in 7irte o# /!ic! t!e agent i" re"pon"ible #or /!at i" done. 86!i" i" t!e 'rig!t
o# 1no/ledge* di"tincti7e o# )odern conception" o# agenc-, b- contra"t to t!o"e pre"ented
in ancient traged-, ad7erted to in t!e pa""age" #rt!er abo7e.) 6!" con"ideration" o#
re"pon"ibilit- indce a di"tinction /it!in t!e con"e@ential "peci#ication" o# t!e actal
per#or)ance prodced. 6!e end or prpo"e endor"ed 8principle 85)) i" tran"lated into t!e
e:ternal /orld in t!e "!ape o# t!e deed in t!e "en"e t!at t!e prpo"e it &"ti#ie" pro7ide"
de"cription" o# t!e 7er- "a)e deed t!at al"o !a" con"e@ential de"cription" nder /!ic! it i"
not intentional.
6!e deed po"it" an alteration to t!i" gi7en e:i"tence, and t!e /ill i"
entirel- responsible G!at "c!ldH #or it in "o #ar a" t!e predicate C)ine%
attac!e" to t!e e:i"tence "o alteredE0t re"pon"ibilit- in7ol7e" onl- t!e
/!oll- e:ternal &dg)ent a" to /!et!er I !a7e done "o)et!ing or notD and
t!e #act t!at I a) re"pon"ible #or "o)et!ing doe" not )ean t!at t!e t!ing
can be i)pted to )e.
32
6!e deed i" /!at I do nder all it" de"cription". I a) re"pon"ible #or it in t!e "en"e t!at it i"
C)ine%: I did it. 0t it i" imputed to )e onl- nder t!e intentional de"cription": t!e one"
appearing in a "peci#ication o# )- prpo"e, t!e de"cription" t!at "peci#- t!e deed a"
"o)et!ing I !ad rea"on to do.
11) It i" &"t t!e #ailre to appreciate t!i" point abot t!e nece""ar- nit- o# action
t!e e:pre""ion 8tran"lation) o# t!e inner in t!e oter a" t!e actali9ation o# t!e prpo"e in
t!at intentional "peci#ication" and nintentional con"e@ential one" "peci#- t!e same
actal deedt!at c!aracteri9e" t!e de#ecti7e #or)" o# practical "el#5con"cio"ne""
re!ear"ed in t!e !eason c!apter:
<on"cio"ne"", t!ere#ore, t!rog! it" e:perience in /!ic! it "!old !a7e #ond it"
trt!, !a" reall- beco)e a riddle to it"el#: t!e con"e@ence" o# it" deed are #or it
not t!e deed" t!e)"el7e". .!at be#all" it i", #or it, not t!e e:perience o# /!at it i"
in it"el#, t!e tran"ition i" not a )ere alteration o# t!e #or) o# t!e "a)e content and
e""ence, pre"ented no/ a" t!e content and e""ence, and again a" t!e ob&ect or
Got/ardl-H be!eld e""ence o# it"el#.
33
(or t!e con"e@ence" o# t!e deed" to be t!e deed" t!e)"el7e" i" &"t #or t!e accordion
principle to appl-. (or /!at be#all" con"cio"ne"" 8t!e con"e@ential "peci#ication" o# it"
deed nder /!ic! it i" not intentional) to be for con"cio"ne"" /!at con"cio"ne"" i" in it"el#
i" #or t!e "peci#ication" nder /!ic! t!e deed is intentional 8"peci#ication" in ter)" o# it"
endor"ed prpo"e, e:pre""ing t!e agent%" ta1ing o# re"pon"ibilit- #or a doing) to be
ac1no/ledged a" "peci#ication" o# t!e 7er- "a)e deed t!at al"o !a" e:ternal con"e@ential
de"cription".
32
"hilosophy of !ight M115 and M115H.
33
"henomenology M365.
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12) 6!e 'di"tinction t!at action i)plie"*

i" 't!at bet/een /!at i" prpo"ed and /!at i"
acco)pli"!ed in t!e real) o# e:i"tence.*
3?
3ore "peci#icall-, /!en /e loo1 at t!e
internal articlation o# t!e proce"" t!at in it" nit- /e identi#- a" an action:
6!e "i)ple original natre no/ "plit" p into t!e di"tinction /!ic! action i)plie".
2ction i" pre"ent at #ir"t...a" =nd, and !ence oppo"ed to a realit- alread- gi7en.
6!e "econd )o)ent i" t!e )o7e)ent o# t!e =nd...!ence t!e idea o# t!e tran"ition
it"el#, or )ean". 6!e t!ird )o)ent i"...t!e ob&ect, /!ic! i" no longer in t!e #or)
o# an =nd directl- 1no/n b- t!e agent to be !i" o/n, bt a" brog!t ot into t!e
lig!t o# da- and !a7ing #or !i) t!e #or) o# an Oot!erO.
35
6!e broadl- Fa7id"onian nder"tanding o# t!i" '"plitting p* o# t!e action can be
e:ploited "o a" to e:plain !o/ t!e deed, n#olding con"e@entiall- be-ond t!e 1en or
co)pa"" o# t!e prpo"e o# t!e agent, can ne7ert!ele"" be ac1no/ledged b- t!e agent
a" t!e agent%" doing"o t!at t!e agent doe" not in it" practical acti7it- 'beco)e a
riddle to it"el#*. 6!e Fa7id"onian "gge"tion i" t!at the division of action into its
aspects is a matter of different ays of specifying one event or performance.
@+ -ut ho does (egel understand the difference beteen the different kinds of
hat I have been calling ?descriptions9 or ?specifications9 of the deedV
13) 21: #he distinction that action implies is, on the 6avidsonian line being
pursued, a distinction beteen intentional and consequential characteri&ations of
one and the same deed.
1?) 22: 6!e "!ort 7er"ion o# t!e an"/er I /ill o##er !ere i"
#ir"t, t!at it is a distinction of social perspective, bet/een t!e agent, /!o
ac1no/ledge" a "peci#icall- content#l re"pon"ibilit-, and an adience, /!o
attribte" and a""e""e" it.
$econd, t!at di##erence o# "ocial per"pecti7e i" a normative one in a dal
"en"e. .!at t!e- are per"pecti7e on i" a nor)ati7e "tat": a @e"tion o# t!e
i)ptation o# a "peci#ic responsibility. 2nd the perspectives are defined by
distinct seats of authority concerning the characteri&ation of hat the
agent is responsible for.
6!ird, t!e lti)ate deter)inate identity 8nit-) o# t!e content o# t!e action
/!at /e "!old nder"tand a" co))on to it" inner 8in t!e Hegelian "en"e o#
i)plicit, rat!er t!an t!e <arte"ian "en"e o# epi"te)icall- tran"parent) #or) and
t!e oter 8in t!e Hegelian "en"e o# e:plicit, rat!er t!an t!e <arte"ian "en"e o#
epi"te)icall- opa@e) #or) t!at tran"late", actali9e", and e:pre""e" iti" t!e
prodct o# a proce"" o# reciprocal "peci#ic recognition, in /!ic! t!e
co)peting co)ple)entar- "ociall- di"tinct at!oritie" negotiate and t!eir
clai)" are ad&dicated and reconciled.
15) 6!e e""entiall- "ocial c!aracter o# t!at di"tinction "!o/" p i# /e t!in1 abot /!o
i" in a nor)ati7e po"itionho has the authorityAto offer specifications of the to
sorts.
3?
"hilosophy of !ight M11?N.
35
"henomenology M?00.
0rando) 1L 5>1?>201?
228386959.doc
6o "a- t!at t!e deed or /or1 i" actal i" to "a- t!at it i" pblic, a7ailable to all. 6!e trt!
o# t!e per#or)ance, /!at it i" in it"el#, i" e:pre""ed in all o# t!e de"cription" o# /!at i"
actall- ac!ie7ed, all t!e "peci#ication" o# t!e content in ter)" o# it" con"e@ence".
6!e"e de"cription" are a7ailable in principle to an-one in t!e co))nit- to recogni9e t!e
per#or)ance nder or to c!aracteri9e it" content. '6!e /or1 i", i.e. it e:i"t" #or ot!er
indi7idalitie".*
36
(or ot!er", /!o /itne"" or !ear abot )- action 8co)ing to 1no/
abot it in an- o# t!e 7ario" /a-" /e co)e to 1no/ abot actal occrrence"), /!at )-
deed i" can be "aid o# it.
3L

2ctali9ation i"Ea di"pla- o# /!at i" oneO" o/n in t!e ele)ent o#
ni7er"alit- /!ereb- it beco)e", and "!old beco)e, t!e a##air o#
e7er-one.
38

6!e con"e@ential de"cription" "peci#- /!at t!e action i" #or ot!er", and #or t!e agent
@a ot!er, t!at i" a" recogni9ing and a""e""ing !i" o/n action 7ia !i" e)pirical
con"cio"ne"" o# it a" an actalit-.
6!e /or1 prodced i" t!e realit- /!ic! con"cio"ne"" gi7e" it"el#D it i" t!at
in /!ic! t!e indi7idal i" e:plicitl- #or !i)"el# /!at !e i" i)plicitl- or in
!i)"el#, and in "c! a )anner t!at t!e con"cio"ne"" #or /!ic! t!e
indi7idal beco)e" e:plicit in t!e /or1 i" not t!e particlar, bt t!e
ni7er"al, con"cio"ne"".
39

6!e ni7er"al con"cio"ne"" i" t!at o# t!e co))nit-, a" oppo"ed to t!e indi7idal agent.
6!e ot!er )e)ber" o# t!e co))nit- can de"cribe /!at it i" t!at I !a7e doneD t!e- can
"peci#- /!at I !a7e ac!ie7ed or acco)pli"!ed. 2ccordingl-, t!e di"tinction bet/een /!at
I intended and /!at I acco)pli"!ed, bet/een /!at t!e per#or)ance i" #or )e and /!at it
i" in it"el#, ta1e" t!e #or) o# t!e di"tinction bet/een /!at it i" #or )e and /!at it i" #or
ot!er".
16) 6!e actalit- a7ailable to all i" t!e e:plicit #or) o# t!e co))it)ent t!e agent !a"
nderta1en in acting. 0t hat makes the commitment, and so the action, the agent9s
(the moment of certainty" is his acknoledgment of it as such. And for that the
specifications under hich the agent endorses it have special authority, not "!ared b-
t!o"e /!o )erel- ob"er7e t!e re"lt" o# t!at endor"e)ent. 6!e"e are t!e "peci#ication"
nder /!ic! it i" intentional. .e can loo1 at t!i" notion in ter)" o# it" circ)"tance" and
con"e@ence" o# application. What in this distinctive ay privileges the association of
some descriptions of the deed ith the doer is that they are the ones that appear as
conclusions of processes of practical reasoning endorsed by the agent. (or e:a)ple:
It i" dar1D I need to "eeD 6rning on t!e lig!t /ill enable )e to "eeD (lipping t!e "/itc!
/ill trn on t!e lig!tD $o I "!all #lip t!e "/itc!. 6!e agent%" endor"e)ent o# "c!
practical rea"oning )a- !a7e been e:plicitl- attac!ed to it" actal re!ear"al a" part o# an
antecedent proce"" o# deliberation leading p to t!e per#or)ance, or it )a- be i)plicit in
a di"po"ition to trot it ot /!en c!allenged to gi7e rea"on" #or t!e per#or)ance. 6!e
con"e@ence" o# application o# t!e concept de"cription nder /!ic! t!e per#or)ance i"
intentional are t!at t!e"e "peci#- t!e content o# t!e co))it)ent t!e agent ta1e" !i)"el# to
be ac1no/ledging in prodcing t!e per#or)ance. #he performance is intentional
36
"henomenology M?05.
3L
<#. "henomenology M322.
38
"henomenology M ?1L.
39
"henomenology M?05.
0rando) 18 5>1?>201?
228386959.doc
under those descriptions the agent is prepared to acknoledge himself as
responsible for it under, apart #ro) an- 1no/ledge o# t!e de"cription" t!at beco)e
a7ailable onl- /it! it" being actali9ed, "peci#icall-, de"cription" o# it in ter)" o# it"
con"e@ence". 6!e"e are t!e de"cription" nder /!ic! t!e agent i" petitioning t!e
co))nit- to be "peci#icall- recogni9ed a" re"pon"ible #or t!e per#or)ance.
<*" 1ractical 'uccess and Bailure in the ;ulgar 'ense+ #he ;orstand:Absicht
6istinction
a) Preli)inar-: Brom events to plan$structured processes. .!ere t!eorie" o#
action o# t!e "ort epito)i9ed b- Fa7id"on%" #ind t!eir paradig)atic action" in
)o)entar-, pncti#or) e7ent" "c! a" #lipping a "/itc! or letting go o# a rope,
t!e paradig)" o# t!e action" Hegel addre""e" are to be #ond rat!er in co)ple:,
e:tended proce""e" "c! a" /riting a boo1 or properl- br-ing a "lain brot!er.
$c! proce""e" de7elop according to a di"tincti7e 1ind o# internal nor)ati7e
"trctre. 6!at i" /!- in t!e pa""age @oted t/o paragrap!" bac1 Hegel re#er" to
'/ell5)eant designs* and 'be"t5laid plans*. In all e:cept degeneratel- "i)ple
ca"e" 8indeed, e7en in t!e ca"e o# intending to trn on t!e lig!t" or por /ater in
t!e gla"") one plan" to reali9e one prpo"e by reali9ing ot!er" t!at #nction a"
in"tr)ent" or )ean" to t!at end. 8=7en /!en tal1ing abot events rat!er t!an
actions, !i" paradig)" are co)ple: e7ent" "c! a" t!e (renc! 4e7oltion.
?0
) 2nd
t!o"e "b5goal" )a- be "b"er7ed, in t!e plan b- #rt!er "b5"b5goal". $o t!e
intention endor"ed doe" not in t!e general ca"e con"i"t o# a "ingle de"cription
nder /!ic! t!e per#or)ance i" to be intentional, bt "o)et!ing )ore li1e a tree5
"trctre or #lo/5c!art in /!ic! t!e per#or)ance5de"cription node" are lin1ed b-
intended )ean"5end connection".
b) 6!i" t!og!t i" the basis for (egel9s distinction beteen purpose ,;orsat&. (and
the closely related end ,Ceck.", on the one hand, and intention ,Absicht. on the
other.
2n action a" an e:ternal e7ent i" a co)ple: o# connected part" /!ic! )a-
be regarded a" di7ided into nit" ad in#init), and t!e action )a- be
treated a" !a7ing toc!ed in t!e #ir"t in"tance onl- one o# t!e"e nit". 6!e
trt! o# t!e "ingle, !o/e7er, i" t!e ni7er"alD and /!at e:plicitl- gi7e"
action it" "peci#ic c!aracter i" not an i"olated content li)ited to an e:ternal
nit, bt a ni7er"al content, co)pri"ing in it"el# t!e co)ple: o# connected
part". Prpo"e, a" i""ing #ro) a t!in1er, co)pri"e" )ore t!an t!e )ere
nitD e""entiall- it co)pri"e" t!at ni7er"al "ide o# t!e action, i.e. t!e
intention.
?1
6!e 'co)ple: o# connected part"* i" "trctred a" a plan, articlated b- an in"tr)ental
Cb-% relation. =7en in t!e 7er- "i)ple"t "ort o# e:a)ple, one intend" to ac!ie7e t!e
prpo"e o# trning on t!e lig!t" by #lipping t!e "/itc!, and intend" to #lip t!e "/itc! by
)o7ing one%" #inger. '6!e action )a- be treated a" !a7ing toc!ed in t!e #ir"t in"tance
onl- one o# t!e"e nit"* in t!at t!e re"t are con"e@ential de"cription" o# t!e action t!at i"
intentional nder t!i" initial de"cription. I# t!ing" go /rong, contingencie" inter7ene
8one%" #inger )i""e" t!e "/itc!, t!e "/itc! i" bro1enE), t!en t!o"e con"e@ential
?0
(or one e:a)ple pt #or/ard in t!e conte:t o# elaborating !i" t!eor- o# action, "ee "hilosophy of !ight
M115N.
?1
"hilosophy of !ight M119.
0rando) 19 5>1?>201?
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de"cription" )a- not, a" planned, be tre o# t!e doing t!at i" intentional nder t!e
"peci#ication ')o7ing one%" #inger.*
.!at Hegel call" t!e Cintention% a""ociated /it! an action enco)pa""e" t!e plan t!at
pro"pecti7el- lin1" /!at i" immediately done 8t!e nit t!e action )a- be treated a" !a7ing
in t!e #ir"t in"tance toc!ed) /it! t!e prpo"e ai)ed at. It i" a Cni7er"al% in t!at it
co)pri"e" all o# t!e Cnit"% G=in9el!eitenH into /!ic! t!e proce"" can be di7ided. 6!e
content o# t!e action i" not to be identi#ied "olel- eit!er /it! t!e initial i))ediate means
adopted, nor /it! t!e prpo"e /!o"e reali9ation i" e7entall- ai)ed at, bt /it! t!e plan5
"trctred intention o# /!ic! t!e- are ele)ent".
6!e ni7er"al @alit- o# t!e action i" t!e )ani#old content o# t!e action a"
"c!, redced to t!e "i)ple #or) o# ni7er"alit-. 0t t!e "b&ect, an entit-
re#lected into !i)"el# and "o particlar in correlation /it! t!e particlarit-
o# !i" ob&ect, !a" in !i" end !i" o/n particlar content, and t!i" content i"
t!e "ol o# t!e action and deter)ine" it" c!aracter.
?2
6!e particlar, "b&ecti7e content o# t!e action 8/!at one decided to do) i" t!e content o#
t!e ,or"at9, /!ile t!e ni7er"al, )ani#old 8articlated) content o# t!e action a" planned i"
t!e 2b"ic!t 8/!ic! inclde" !o/ one decided to do it). .!at i" intended i" t!e /!ole
"trctre 8t!e ni7er"al), not &"t t!e end or prpo"e ai)ed at, nor 8at t!e ot!er end o# t!e
planned proce"") t!e i))ediate initial )ean" adopted:
2ctalit- i" toc!ed in t!e #ir"t in"tance onl- at one indi7idal point 8&"t
a" in ar"on t!e #la)e i" applied directl- onl- to a ")all portion o# t!e
/oodE
?3
G.H!at t!e ar"oni"t "et" on #ire i" not t!e i"olated area o# /ood an inc!
/ide to /!ic! !e applie" t!e #la)e, bt t!e ni7er"al /it!in iti.e. t!e
entire !o"eE
??

c) 6!i" ;orsat&:Absicht distinction gives (egel a theoretical ay of
saying hat vulgar success and failure of actions consists in. 2n action
"cceed" in t!i" "en"e i# t!e con"e@ential de"cription" t!at are tre o# it inclde
t!e prpo"e /!o"e ac!ie7e)ent i" t!e endor"ed end in t!e "er7ice o# /!ic! all t!e
ot!er ele)ent" o# t!e intention5plan #nction a" )ean". 2n action #ail" in t!i"
"en"e i#, alt!og! "o)e t!ing" are done intentionall-, i.e. a" part o# t!e plan, t!e
prpo"e i" not ac!ie7ed, beca"e t!e )ean" adopted do not !a7e t!e con"e@ence"
en7i"aged.
<4" Identity of )ontent of 6eed and Intention
a) It re)ain", t!en, to a"1 in /!at "en"e it i" t!at e7en failed action" "!old be
nder"tood to e:!ibit t!e nece""ar- unity t!at action in7ol7e". .e /ere told t!at e7en in
"c! ca"e" t!ere i" an identity of content bet/een intention and ac!ie7e)ent. In /!at
"en"e doe" "c! a #ailre to reali9e t!e intended prpo"e '"i)pl- tran"late an initiall-
i)plicit being into a being t!at i" )ade e:plicitE.*
?5
V In /!at "en"e can /e "a- o# it t!at
it
?2
"hilosophy of !ight M121.
?3
"hilosophy of !ight M119N.
??
"hilosophy of !ight M132N.
?5
"henomenology M?01.
0rando) 20 5>1?>201?
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alter" not!ing and oppo"e" not!ing. It i" t!e pre #or) o# a tran"ition #ro)
a "tate o# not being "een to one o# being "een, and t!e content /!ic! i"
brog!t ot into t!e da-lig!t and di"pla-ed i" not!ing el"e bt /!at t!i"
action alread- i" in it"el#. It i" i)plicit: t!i" i" it" #or) a" a nit- in
t!og!tD and it i" actalt!i" i" it" #or) a" an e:i"tent nit-. 2ction it"el#
i" a content onl- /!en, in t!i" deter)ination o# "i)plicit-, it i" contra"ted
/it! it" c!aracter a" a tran"ition and )o7e)ent.
?6
V
6!e 6at>Handlng di"tinction alread- entail" t!at 'action", in t!eir e:ternal e:i"tence,
inclde contingent con"e@ence".*
?L
0t Hegel i" clai)ing "o)et!ing )c! "tronger.
6!e contingencie" to /!ic! t!e proce"" o# tr-ing to reali9ing a prpo"e i" "b&ect are
"o)e!o/ to be nder"tood a" #eatre" o# t!e content t!at are retro"pecti7el- di"cernable
a" al/a-" alread- !a7ing been i)plicit in t!e intention. 6!at i" /!-, #or in"tance,
'<on"cio"ne"" )"t act )erel- in order t!at /!at it i" in it"el# )a- beco)e e:plicit #or
it...G2Hn indi7idal cannot 1no/ /!at !e i" ntil !e !a" )ade !i)"el# a realit- t!rog!
action.*
?8
2nd, a" /e !a7e "een, Hegel e:plicitl- tell" " t!at #ailed action" are not to be
con"idered e:ception" to t!e conceptal trt! t!at in action one and t!e "a)e content
appear" in t/o #or)", once a" intention and once a" actalit-. Here i" a pa""age #ro) t!e
part o# t!e !echtsphilosophie t!at pre"ent" t!e 6at>Handlng and ,or"at9>2b"ic!t
di"tinction" /e !a7e been con"idering:
It i" certainl- t!e ca"e t!at a greater or le""er n)ber o# circ)"tance"
)a- inter7ene in t!e cor"e o# an action. In a ca"e o# ar"on, #or e:a)ple,
t!e #ire )a- not ta1e !old, or con7er"el-, it )a- "pread #rt!er t!an t!e
clprit intended. Ie7ert!ele"", no di"tinction "!old be )ade !ere
bet/een good and ill #ortne, #or in t!eir action", !)an being" are
nece""aril- in7ol7ed in e:ternalit-. 2n old pro7erb rig!tl- "a-", '6!e
"tone belong" to t!e de7il /!en it lea7e" t!e !and t!at t!re/ it.* 0-
acting, I e:po"e )-"el# to )i"#ortne, /!ic! accordingl- !a" a rig!t o7er
)e and i" an e:i"tence o# )- o/n 7olition.
?9

b)
c) t
19)
20) t
21) t
?6
"henomenology M396.
?L
"hilosophy of !ight M120N.
?8
"henomenology M?01.
?9
"hilosophy of !ight M119H.
0rando) 21 5>1?>201?