At the beginning of his commentary on Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit, Howard Kainz poses an interesting question: "What," he asks, "is the literary form of the "Phenomenology'"? But, although his consideration of the question produces some interesting comparisons, and quite a few incidental insights, he is not able to give a direct answer that is informative. "We conclude tentatively … that this work is completely unique in the annals of philosophy."¹