ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes to defend is that G. W. F. Hegel's 'theory of recognition' is intended as an answer to a specific question in his systematic philosophy. That question is the question of the nature and the very possibility of freedom. A true individual is a free subject and recognition relations function in a complex way as conditions for that possibility. There is a great barrier to any economical discussion of this possible interpretation: would need an adequate account of Hegel's speculative notion of freedom. Since that involves his speculative logic, as well as his account of the Nature-Spirit relation, there would seem to be miles to go before the relation between the recognition theory and the theory of freedom could be addressed. While Hegel is rejecting the notion of any causal or causal power account of freedom, should not go too far in any 'objective' or social theory of freedom.
