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Comets and Moons: The For-Another in Hegel's Philosophy of Nature
Comets and Moons: The For-Another in Hegel's Philosophy of Nature
University of Ottawa
Abstract: This paper examines the Hegelian moment of the for-another in its
negative relation to the other moment of particularity: the for-itself. I identify
the dissolving, fluidifying action of the for-another by examining figures within
the Philosophy of Nature, particularly comets and moons, but also Hegels physics of light and sound. The dissolution of the lunar for-itself at the hands of
the cometary for-another illustrates how the dynamic relation between the
two moments of particularity participates in the presentation of essence,
within the Hegelian syllogism, i.e. as mediating between the universal and the
singular. The dynamic action of cometary negativity occurs throughout the
Philosophy of Nature and therefore should be pivotal to how the work is read.