Round-table discussion on problems of translating Hegel
pp. 253-267
in: Joseph J. O'Malley, K Algozin, Howard P. Kainz, RICE (eds), The legacy of Hegel, Berlin, Springer, 1973Abstract
Kenley Dove: Let me begin by saying that Professor Pöggeler's presence here has been an invaluable help to me in working out a translation of the Phenomenology As we know, the Phenomenology is entitled in the German Phänomenologie des Geistes and one has a problem right away in determining how to translate the word "Geist." Professor Pöggeler has, in the way of genius, come up with an obvious solution, Sir James Baillie, as you know, translated Geist as "Mind." Now there are certain objections to the word "Mind," and these have been voiced so many times that it would be superfluous for me to reiterate them this evening. Others have voiced objections to the other translation which has been used. Professor Findlay, for example, uses the word, "Spirit." Now this is a term that I have been tempted to adopt myself until the ingenious suggestion of Professor Pöggeler, who has said that "Geist" is obviously "Ghost." So the Phenomenology becomes the Phenomenology of Ghost! Now this struck me immediately as being possibly appropriate, but I would like at this point to throw the discussion open to find out whether or not you thought this was the entirely appropriate translation of "Geist."
