Means

Texts online

HTM Theses 1801
HTM Fragment of a System 1800
HTM The Critical Journal of Philosophy 1802
HTM The Difference Between Fichte's and Schelling's System of Philosophy 1801
HTM Faith & Knowledge 1802
HTM Shorter Logic (Book 1 of the Encyclopedia) 1830
HTM The Science of Logic 1812-1816

Hegel texts on this topic

Enzyklopädie I, § 206🇩🇪 DE

Commentary on this

Commentary on the Logic, Chapter 15 Teleologie - Zweck, List der Vernunft

Means

The means is the mediating link between purpose and result. In teleology: the purpose employs the means in order to realize itself. The means is ambiguous: (1) serving — used by the purpose, (Ch. 2) independent — has its own laws (mechanics, chemism). The cunning of reason: the purpose lets the means do the work, preserving itself in the process. Example: a tool (hammer) as means between intention (driving in a nail) and result (nail in the wood). The means is more objective than the subjective purpose: it remains, while purposes change. The dialectical point: the means is not merely passive, but shows the objectivity that the purpose must recognize.

Origin: Greek *organon* (tool). Aristotle: the four causes (*causa instrumentalis*). Kant: means-ends rationality. Hegel: the means shows the cunning of reason — spirit works through objectivity.

In Hegel: Enc. §207-210; SL Vol. 2, Teleology

Cross-references: Purpose, Teleology, Cunning of Reason, Objectivity, Mechanism, Logic of the Concept

Commentary on the Logic, Chapter 15

To the glossary index · ↑ Top of page