Beyond Liberalism and Communitarianism

Beyond Liberalism and Communitarianism is the first collection of essays treating Hegel's social and political philosophy to appear since 1984. Several new books have since been published transcribing Hegel's lectures on the Philosophy of Right. This book reflects these advances in Hegel scholarship and debunks the widely held notion of the totalitarian Hegel. Rather, Hegel's thought is revealed to be an alternative to both liberal individualism and communitarianism. The essays here treat Hegel's critique of morality (Kant), social contract theory, capitalism, poverty, as well as Hegel's views on punishment, freedom, and the ethical character and unity of the idea of the state.