ON HEGEL’S ZUSÄTZE (February 16, 2012)
Every now and then I experience a strong feeling of contentment with my writing, as it were, style. Dating everything I write, as well as the addenda to so much that I have written, resolves many a problem that would otherwise bedevil my Residua. Without the dates, the addenda would be enigmatic, for I could always change the original text instead. Similarly, the addenda would be enigmatic without the dates, for they are often based on very different readings of the original text. This is especially the case when there are many addenda to the original piece of writing. Anyhow, I just experienced a strong feeling of contentment with my writing style once again. A moment later I remembered Hegel, though. Indeed, it was his Zusätze that led me to my addenda so many years ago. Although undated, each and every Zusatz adds a new twist to his writings, just as is the case with each and every addendum to my writings. Out of the blue, I felt kind of thankful to him. I only wonder why his Zusätze have not spread far and wide. They would be such a wonderful addition to many a writing style.