Conclusion: Hegel on Vital Forces, Teleology and Organization

Abstract

This chapter concludes the book with some considerations of Hegel’s position on Romantic Naturphilosophie. Unlike Kant and Schelling, Hegel did not play an active role in the scientific debate culminating in the emergence of biology as a unified field. However, as an external observer, he was well-positioned to grasp its fundamental philosophical stakes. In particular, he criticized Kant for interpreting teleology solely in terms of intention and the naturphilosophisch movement for its speculative excesses. These critiques, however, establish that Hegel did not consider Naturphilosophie something to be thoroughly rejected, but corrected and integrated. His attempt to facilitate this integration resulted in a theory of biological individuality in which teleology is understood as internal purposiveness, i.e. autonomous self-organization.