«Fluency» and «Restraint» in the Preface to the Phenomenology of Spirit

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to focus on two minor terms used by Hegel in the preface to the Phenomenology of Spirit («Fluency» [Flüssigkeit] and «Restraint» [Hemmen / Hemmung]) in order to offer a reading of the text that reveals the significance of movement as both a central subject and the very essence of the text itself. It will be argued that Hegel understands and makes use of «Restraint» not as an abscence of movement but, rather, as a presence, albeit a negative one, while «Fluency» corresponds to its positive manifestation. The importance of «Restraint» for the whole presence of movement will be stressed by showing the connection developed in the text between «the negative element» and «the moving principle». Finally, this reading will take us to Hegel’s problematic view of prefaces and his very own prefacing text, which will be suggested to be read as a literary «Restraint» that, in virtue of the negative, forces the reader to the necessary movement that the very text demands.

Keywords: fluidity, restraint, Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, movement, negativity.