Es ist eine natürliche Vorstellung
It is a natural idea
dass, ehe in der Philosophie an die Sache selbst, nämlich an das wirkliche Erkennen dessen, was in Wahrheit ist, gegangen wird,
before philosophy enters upon its very subject, namely to the real recognition of what in truth is,
es notwendig sei, vorher über das Erkennen sich zu verständigen,
it is necessary to come first to an understanding concerning knowledge,
"It is a natural idea", well, it is rather a philosophical idea. Hegel moves against Kant here, but will name him only later on. After the "preface", Hegel tries to appear attached to natural thinking. After the "preface", where he talked about the historical present, here he exclusively refers to philosophical thinking.