An Investigation of the Meaning of Death for Hegelian Spirit.

This work explores the paradoxical necessity of death for the actuality and purposiveness of Hegelian Spirit, i.e., collective and particular self. I defend an interpretation that illustrates death as the precondition for development, and thus significance, for Spirit. My central claim is supported by the placement of Hegel's discussion of death within the Phenomenology of Spirit and is consistent with interpretations by Alexandre Kojève and Georges Bataille. The dual manifestation of death as potentiality and actuality is examined and lends insight to the stepwise evolution of Spirit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]