Description

This collection of new perspectives on Hegel's Philosophy of Right breaks down some of the most stubborn barriers between the book and its readers. From its polemical preface to its closing ruminations on the state and world history, Hegel's seminal text can appear antiquated and conservative to even the most motivated reader. These essays remove those obstacles by demonstrating how radical many of his reflections on politics and ethics remain some 200 years after its publication.

New Perspectives on Hegel's Philosophy of Right works through Hegel's ideas in two distinct stages. Its first half explains how a close reading of contested sections can reveal new possibilities for the interpretation of key issues like private property, family, conscience, patriotism and the executive branch – covering important topics from each of the three major sections of Hegel's text. The book's second half then considers Hegel's work in dialogue with contemporary political thought, legal studies, critical theory, economic theory and queer studies.

These essays show the rich interplay of Hegelian concepts and insights with pressing contemporary concerns, proving their continued relevance. Maintaining focus on how Hegel's work speaks to us today, this book offers readers an invaluable set of launchpoints to explore his lasting contribution to both the new and perennial concerns of philosophy.

Table of Contents

1. 1. Editors' Introduction, Andrew A. Davis (Belmont University, USA) and Sebastian Rand (Georgia State University, USA)
Part One: Contested Sections of the Philosophy of Right

2. Willing to Read: The Aims and Limits of Hegel's Preface, Andrew A. Davis (Belmont University, USA)
3. Hegel's Doppelsatz: The Critique of Kant and the Challenge of Marx, Paul Wilford (Boston College, USA)
4. Hegel's Justification of Private Property, Lewis Wang (Boston University, USA)
5. Love and the Family in the Philosophy of Right: Hegel's Final Critique of Morality, Dylan Shaul (Yale University, USA)
6. On the Political Subtext of Hegel's 'The Good and Conscience', Allegra De Laurentiis (Stony Brook University, USA)
7. Critical Patriotism: Hegel on Virtue, Trust, and the Public Sphere, Kevin Thompson (DePaul University, USA)
8. Three Concepts of Political Rationality in Hegel's Executive, Jeff Church (University of Houston, USA)
Part Two: The Philosophy of Right in Dialogue with Contemporary Political Theory
9. Hegel on Punishment, Democratic Engagement and Juries, Thom Brooks (Durham University, UK)
10. Incompatibilisms: Contemporary Perspectives on Hegelian Political Economy, Nicoletta Montaner (UC Berkeley, USA)
11. Queer Spirit: Towards the Actualization of Social Freedom, Alex Adamson (Babson College, USA)
12. Immanent Normativity and Actuality in Hegel and Bloch, Ana Vieyra-Ramirez (Emory University, USA)
13. The 'Rabble,' the 'severe style:' Hegel's Critical Theory?, Paul Giladi (SOAS, UK)
14. Hegel's 'Metaphilosophy' and Objective Spirit: The Inadvertent Apotheosis of the Political, . Jere Surber (University of Denver, USA)

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published 24 Jul 2025
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 256
ISBN 9781350476066
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Illustrations 10 bw illus
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Anthology Editor

Andrew Alexander Davis

Andrew Alexander Davis is Associate Professor of P…

Anthology Editor

Sebastian Rand

Sebastian Rand is Associate Professor at the Jean…

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