ABSTRACT
The paper introduces Hegel's concept of recognition in the Phenomenology of Spirit and marks out the advantages of this particular notion of recognition. This part tries to go beyond the basic ‘sociological’ insight that in the notion of recognition we find a handy theoretical tool to prove that individuality is socially conditioned. To achieve this end, we have to appreciate that in the Phenomenology, the notion of recognition represents a single – crucial – moment within the development of spirit and thereby attains asymmetrical meaning. This integration of recognition as the conceptual moment in the process through which spirit comes to itself is contrasted with Axel Honneth's endeavour that aims to find in Hegel the robust theoretical background for his notion of recognition that is rather symmetrical and not vertical. The author argues that only within Hegel's metaphysics of spirit can one understand why spirit itself (with its three spheres of ethical life – the family, civil society and the state – respectively) is the subject which not only seeks recognition – from us – but also has a legitimate right to this recognition.
