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emerge at this stage and that has not entered this stage from the one preceding it…a requirement
which is satisfied； after its fashion； in the process of mathematical reasoning。 However； such an
abstract perfection of exposition must； I admit； in general be dispensed with； the very fact that the
science must begin with what is absolutely simple； that is； with what is most general and of least
import； would restrict the exposition solely to these same quite simple expressions of the simple
without any further addition of a single word； all that could properly be admitted would be
negative considerations intended to ward off and banish any heterogeneous elements which
otherwise might be introduced by pictorial thought or unregulated thinking。 However； such
intrusive elements in the simple immanent course of the development are themselves contingent； so
that the effort to ward them off is itself tainted with this contingency； besides which it is futile to try
to deal with all of them； lying as they do outside the subject matter； and in any case； any demand
for a systematic disposal of such random reflections could only be partially satisfied。 But the
peculiar restlessness and distraction of our modern consciousness compel us to take some account
of the more readily suggested reflections and opinions。 A plastic discourse demands； too； a plastic
receptivity and understanding on the part of the listener； but youths and men of such a temper who
would calmly suppress their own reflections and opinions in which original thought is so impatient
to manifest itself； listeners such as Plato feigned； who would attend only to the matter in hand；
could have no place in a modern dialogue； still less could one count on readers of such a
disposition。 On the contrary； I have been only too often and too vehemently attacked by
opponents who were incapable of making the simple reflection that their opinions and objections
contain categories which are presuppositions and which themselves need to be criticised first
before they are employed。 Ignorance in this matter reaches incredible lengths； it is guilty of； the
fundamental misunderstanding； the uncouth and uneducated behaviour of taking a category which
is under consideration for something other than the category itself。 This ignorance is the less
justifiable because this 'something other' consists of determinate thoughts and concepts； and in a
system of logic these other categories must likewise have been assigned their own place and must
themselves have been subjected to critical examination within the system。 This ignorance is most
obvious in the great majority of the objections and attacks on the first Notions of logic； being and
nothing； and becoming which； itself a simple determination…the simplest analysis shows it to be
so…contains the two other determinations as moments。 Thoroughness seems to require that the
beginning； as the foundation on which everything is built； should be examined before anything else；
in fact that we should not go any further until it has been firmly established and if； on the other
hand； it is not； that we should reject all that follows。
This thoroughness at the same time has the advantage of guaranteeing that the labour of thinking
shall be reduced to a minimum； it has before it； enclosed in this germ； the entire development
This restriction to what is simple gives scope for the free play of caprice which does not want to
remain simple …but brings in Its own reflections on the subject matter。 Having good right to occupy
itself at first only with the principle and in doing so not to concern itself with what lies beyond it；
this thoroughness actually proceeds to do the opposite of this； for it does bring in what lies
beyond； that is； categories other than those which constitute the principle itself； other
presuppositions and prejudices。 Such presuppositions as that infinite is different from finitude； that
content is other than form； that the inner is other than the outer； also that mediation is no
immediacy （as if anyone did not know such things）； are brought forward by way of information
and narrated and asserted rathe than proved。 But there is something stupid…I can find no other
word for it — about this didactic behaviour； technically it is unjustifiable simply to presuppose and
straightway assume such propositions； and； still more； it reveals ignorance of the fact that it is the
requirement and the business of logical thinking to enquire into just this； whether such a finite
without infinity is something true； or whether such an abstract infinity； also a content without form
and a form without content； an inner by itself which has no outer expression； an externality without
an inwardness； whether any of these is something； true or something actual。 But this education
and discipline of thinking by which it acquires plasticity and by which the impatience of casual
reflection is overcome； is procured solely by going further； by study and by carrying out to its
conclusion the entire development。
Anyone who labours at presenting anew an independent structure of philosophical science may；
when referring to the Platonic exposition； be reminded of the story that Plato revised his Republic
seven times over。 The remembrance of this； the comparison； so far as such may seem to be
implied in it； should only urge one all the more to wish that for a work which； as belonging to the
modern world； is confronted by a profounder principle； a more difficult subject matter and a
material richer in compass； leisure had been afforded to revise it seven and seventy times。
However； the author； in face of the magnitude of the task； has had to content himself with what it
was possible to achieve in circumstances of external necessity； of the inevitable distractions caused
by the magnitude and many…sidedness of contemporary affairs； even under the doubt whether the
noisy clamour of current affairs and the deafening chatter of a conceit which prides itself on
confining itself to such matters leave any room for participation in the passionless calm of a
knowledge which is in the element of pure thought alone。
Berlin； November 7； 1831
Introduction
General Notion of Logic
In no science is the need to begin with the subject matter itself； without preliminary reflections； felt
more strongly than in the science of logic。 In every other science the subject matter and the
scientific method are distinguished from each other； also the content does not make an absolute
beginning but is dependent on other concepts and is connected on all sides with other material。
These other sciences are； therefore； permitted to speak of their ground and its context and also of
their method； only as premises taken for granted which； as forms of definitions and such…like
presupposed as familiar and accepted； are to be applied straight…way； and also to employ the
usual kind of reasoning for the establishment of their general concepts and fundamental
determinations。
Logic on the contrary； cannot presuppose any of these forms of reflection and laws of thinking； for
these constitute part of its own conten