The First German Philosopher: The Mysticism of Jakob Böhme as Interpreted by Hegel

This book investigates Hegel’s interpretation of the mystical philosophy of Jakob Böhme (1575—1624), considered in the context of the reception of Böhme in the 18th and 19th centuries, and of Hegel’s own understanding of mysticism as a philosophical approach. The three sections of this book present: the historical background of Hegel’s encounter with Böhme’s writings; the development of two different conceptions of mysticism in Hegel’s work; and finally Hegel’s approach to Böhme’s philosoph...