Overview of Existence

Existence is a central term in the history of philosophy, holding a prominent status. Entire schools of thought derive their names from it. In Hegel’s Science of Logic we find, however, that existence comes to play a more modest role, but nonetheless a very important one. In the Doctrine of Being, existence is conceptualized as that which is specifically what it is. What is minimally this and not that, or a being that is distinguished in some fashion. It is, in other words, the exponent of determinacy. Determinacy is a key matter not only concerning the presuppositionless development of the categories but also how to approach metaphysics and philosophy as a whole, and in this regard existence does not merely open the door but is the entire gateway.

Existence, or determinate being, is the first category in Hegel’s Science of Logic that is explicitly determinate. It is the most minimally determinate category and shows what it means for something to be determinate at all. This determinacy is further specified in the idea of quality, which further entails the twin notions of reality and negation. Finally, existence develops into something, which is rendered opposed to an other, which marks the initial appearance of finitude.

Through something and other, the categories of determination (not to be confused with determinateness or determinate being), constitution and limit are developed. It is from limit that finitude explicitly becomes developed and with it infinity becomes explicit. Finally, it is through the joint development of finitude and infinity that inaugurates being-for-itself.

In the Logic, the chapter titled Existence covers all of the above mentioned categories, but this section will only concern itself with existence as such. Further categories will receive treatment in their own separate sections.

Another thing to note is that existence (Dasein) is to be distinguished from the later concrete existence (Existenz) that features in the Doctrine of Essence, the second part of Hegel’s Logic.