Abstract

Hegel's main criticisms of Spinoza are well‐known both among Spinoza and Hegel scholars. The role of Spinozism in Hegel's conception of philosophy turns out to be significantly more crucial than the rest of philosophies. This chapter argues that Spinoza's acosmism constitutes for Hegel the necessary condition for the rise and development of philosophy, and hence for the realization of human freedom, insofar as philosophy is the highest form of human freedom. It outlines the general conception of philosophy behind Hegel's statement that Spinozism constitutes “the essential beginning of all philosophizing.” In Hegel's view, the greatness of Spinozism lies precisely in the radical de‐substantialization of finite things that it carries out, that is, in its acosmism.” Spinoza's acosmism clears the ground for the free exercise and unfolding of philosophical thinking.