Phil 112 History of Philosophy: Late Modern Paper Topic #2

In the latter part (pp. 52-57, esp. §§81-85) of the Introduction to the Phenomenology of Spirit, Hegel first raises and then attempts to solve a problem that displays significant similarities to a problem that Roderick Chisholm has called "The Problem of the Criterion". Explain clearly the problem that Hegel is raising, describe exactly how it relates to the "problem of the criterion" that Chisholm lays out, and then present a detailed account of how Hegel attempts to solve the problem. (For example, is Hegel a "methodist," a "particularist," or a skeptic? For whatever answer you give, you need to explain exactly how he thinks that his position resolves the problem.) Your paper should be purely expository in nature and should not take a stand on whether Hegel's account is or is not adequate (though you should reconstruct what you take Hegel's strongest position to be).

(Note: What is relevant to the paper topic is the problem Chisholm lays out, not the solution that he favors. For that reason, I have reproduced only the relevant passages from Chisholm's "The Problem of the Criterion". There is no need to go beyond the end of section 9 on p. 69. Chisholm's "The Problem of the Criterion" is chapter 5 of The Foundations of Knowing, by Roderick Chisholm, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 1982, pp. 61-75.)

Length: 4-5 pages

Due Date: Thursday, May 8, 2012 at 9:30 am.

Bring a hard copy of the paper to class, to turn in, and submit an electronic copy to turnitin.com, using the following information: Class ID is 7876547. The enrollment password is "Kant-Hegel".