In Chapter 3, I argue that it is instructive to reconsider Kant’s pre-critical texts on metaphysics and natural philosophy to challenge the standard reading. These texts articulate a naturalistic, emergent, and dynamic conception of nature which undermines Kant’s usual claims to human superiority. Since dualism and anthropocentrism are largely absent in these texts and since they also encourage planetary thinking, I suggest that environmental philosophers may find an unlikely conceptual resource. As a practical implication, I review Kant’s injunction for human adaptation in the face of natural crisis. I also explore the resurgence of Kant’s pre-critical holism in the late Opus Postumum, suggesting that Kant never fully abandoned it. I conclude with a brief discussion on the influence of Kant’s holism on Goethe, Schiller, and Humboldt, which illuminates why those after Kant would find it plausible to synthesize the pre-critical view of nature with Kant’s mature aesthetic theory.

Serving as an introduction to the collection, this chapter underscores the significance of Hegel’s philosophy of nature within his comprehensive philosophical system and its relevance to contemporary philosophical engagement with empirical sciences. It explores the reception history of Hegel’s Philosophy of Nature, discussing several efforts to revitalize it over the last century and highlighting significant instances of its positive reception despite prevailing skepticism. Tracing the theoretical roots of Hegel’s philosophical interest in the natural world, from post-Kantian thought and the Romantic science movement, the chapter highlights Hegel’s engagement with figures such as Goethe and Schiller, which shaped his organicist views of nature. It examines Hegel’s evolving approach to nature, tracing the emergence of his own natural philosophy and its subsequent refinement in the Dissertatio, the Jena System Drafts, the Phenomenology, and the Encyclopaedia, all of which constitute the important stages of its development. Through successive revisions in the Encyclopaedia, Hegel incorporated advancements in scientific understanding, emphasizing the interplay between empirical observation and philosophical inquiry. In its final section, this chapter outlines the objectives and structure of the volume, emphasizing the revitalization of Hegel’s philosophy of nature beyond its historical context. It argues that Hegel’s approach provides insights into the intricate interplay between humanity and nature, recognizing its depth beyond mere physical needs. Therefore, reassessing his concepts from a modern perspective could generate new viewpoints on the relationship between nature and human culture.