Abstract

This book presents Hegel’s response to Kant’s claim that metaphysics in general and, in particular, knowledge of God, is beyond the grasp of human knowledge. Patricia Marie Calton argues that Hegel uses his version of the ontological proof not only to establish the existence of God, but also to develop a Trinitarian divine ontology, pointing to conclusions drawn by Hegel that human knowledge of God participates in the life of God by completing the Trinity. The main focus of the book concerns Hegel’s reformulation of the ontological proof as a description of God’s self-expression in the world and of God’s attaining complete self-knowledge through human consciousness. The book concludes by explaining the role played by human consciousness in completing the Trinity through the reasoning that takes place in the ontological proof. (publisher, edited)