Phenomenology of Spirit, Preface, paragraph 35

Further, an exposition like this constitutes the first part of science, because the existence of spirit as primary is nothing but the immediate, the beginning; it is the beginning, but not yet its return to itself. The element of immediate existence is therefore the determination by which this part of science is distinguished from the others. The indication of this distinction leads to the discussion of certain fixed notions that usually come up in this connection.