What is it about?
Merold Westphal often uses the Hegelian concept of Aufhebung to explain recontextualization and appropriation. Interestingly, Westphal's use of Aufhebung is an appropriation in and of itself since his use of the concept is very different than Hegel's own intentions. This present text explores the differences and ramifications of Westphal's appropriation.
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Why is it important?
This is important for both Hegel scholars and philosophers of religion who are either interested in Westphal's thinking or in the concept of appropriation/recontextualization. For those interested in Hegel, it shows how a contemporary thinker employs Hegelian concepts and how Hegel's dialectic still remains relevant to philosophy. For those interested in Westphal and/or appropriation, it shows how a thinker might adapt a concept for a particular intellectual purpose and it critiques Westphal's use of Hegel by separating what is Westphal's own contribution to the term from Hegel's. A non-Hegel scholar might appreciate this distinction since it clearly shows that Westphal's use of Aufhebung is at times contrary to the original term.
Perspectives
I wrote this piece because I found that Westphal often uses Hegel's Aufhebung differently than Hegel's own use of the term. Although this might seem insignificant, and possibly obvious, when investigating the issue I found that it had drastic ramifications to understanding Westphal's own, mature thinking. I think this matters also to those interested in appropriation and recontextualization since it reveals how a scholar takes up his/her influences and refashions them to a particular end. In the work, I criticize Westphal's lack of explicating this appropriation, but I also show how he makes the term into his own; acknowledging the Hegelian source while making it do quite anti-Hegelian work. This is why I coined the term 'Westphalian Aufhebung.'
Dr Justin Sands
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The concept ofAufhebungin the thought of Merold Westphal: appropriation and recontextualization, International Journal of Philosophy and Theology, January 2015, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/21692327.2015.1057197.
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