Hegel’s The Science of Logic (1812–1816) is a cornerstone of his philosophical system and a critical work in the history of philosophy. This monumental text explores the structures and processes of thought itself, aiming to uncover the fundamental principles of logic as the foundation of reality. Unlike traditional logic, which focuses on static principles like identity, non-contradiction, and excluded middle, Hegel's logic is dynamic and dialectical. It traces the self-developing movement of concepts as they progress through contradictions and resolutions, culminating in a comprehensive understanding of the Absolute—the unity of thought and being.

This translation is an intelligently abridged version of the first two books of the Logic, plus a fully abridged version of the third book. This edition includes an afterword that situates these writings within Hegel's larger philosophical system, providing essential context on the historical and intellectual milieu that shaped his ideas. Alongside a detailed timeline of Hegel's life and works, the afterword explores how this text connects to his broader contributions to metaphysics, epistemology, and social philosophy. The translation employs modern, reader-friendly language, accompanied by a scholarly apparatus designed to immerse contemporary readers in Hegel's intellectual world while emphasizing his enduring relevance today. The translation and accompanying commentary aim to bridge the gap between Hegel’s intricate theoretical frameworks and the modern reader’s quest for understanding, shedding light on his impact on philosophy (including Marx) and beyond. Hegel, often considered one of the most challenging philosophers due to the vast scope and complexity of his thought, is rendered more approachable in this Afterword through the lens of interpretations by influential thinkers such as Tolstoy, Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, and Heidegger.

The Science of Logic is one of Hegel's most inaccessible texts, partly due to its sheer length, how it deals with pure categories of thought without empirical grounding, and dialectal shift as the categories are transformed into others through the triadic process. Several sections are repetitive. This first half of the massive manuscript contains his core ideas. Some redundant sections, such as The Doctrine of Being, Second Chapter: Dasein (Determinate Being) and the Third Chapter: Being-for-Itself (Fürsichsein), sections B are abridged. In the Doctrine of Essence, First Chapter: Reflection section C, and Second Chapter, chapter B and third Chapter section B are abridged with a summary as they are redundant. The third part, the Doctrine of the Concept (Begriff), is summarized and abridged entirely to make the text manageable for the modern reader.

Here Hegel rethinks traditional logical structures through a dialectical lens. The text is divided into three parts: the doctrine of being, essence, and concept, emphasizing the dynamic and self-evolving nature of concepts. Hegel's logic connects abstract ideas to the reality of their movement, inspiring both praise for its depth and criticism for its complexity. This work is fundamental to understanding Hegel's philosophical methodology. The Logic articulates fundamental innovations in philosophical thinking. It challenges traditional metaphysics by showing how basic ontological categories emerge through thought's self-development rather than being simply given. It reconceives the relationship between thought and being, arguing that the structures of rational thought are identical with the structures of reality itself. The work develops Hegel's distinctive understanding of contradiction as productive rather than merely negative, showing how philosophical progress occurs through the recognition and resolution of contradictions inherent in our basic categories of thought.

This text remains arguably Hegel's most difficult and controversial work, yet its influence extends far beyond traditional logic or metaphysics. Its analysis of categories like being and nothing, identity and difference, necessity and freedom, has shaped subsequent philosophical thinking about these fundamental concepts and are critical to Heidegger's understanding of the importance of negation. The work's ambition - to demonstrate the rational necessity of thought's basic determinations - represents both the height of systematic philosophy and a perpetual challenge to later philosophical thinking. Despite its forbidding difficulty, the Science of Logic stands as one of philosophy's most sustained attempts to comprehend the fundamental structure of thought and reality.