The Concept of Right in the Political Philosophy of Hegel

ABSTRACT 

The overall context of this study is Hegel’s concept of Right, that is, the entire normative structure of social life. However, Hegel’s concept of State as an end in itself betrays the dialectical element in his thought, thereby posing the question of the relation of the individual to the state. The study attempts to establish that individual and society are here reconciled through perfecting each other. The study therefore examines the concept of right as this pertains to some other philosophies. It attempts to show the relationship between the individual and the state relative to the issue of rights, to discuss the criticisms of Hegel’s idea rights, and to bring Hegel’s idea of right to bear on the contemporary world.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page - - - - - - - - - i

Approval page - - - - - - - - ii

Certification - - - - - - - - iii

Dedication - - - - - - - - - iv

Acknowledgments - - - - - - - - v

Abstract - - - - - - - - - vii

CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study - - - - - - 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem - - - - - - 3

1.3 Purpose of the Study - - - - - 4

1.4 Thesis - - - - - - - - 4

1.5 Significance of the Study - - - - - 5

1.6 Scope of the Study - - - - - - - 5

1.7 Research Methodology - - - -- - - 5

CHAPTER TWO

2.1 Review of Related Literature - - - - - 6

CHAPTER THREE: THE CONCEPT OF RIGHT IN THE POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY OF HEGEL

3.1 Short Biography and works of Hegel - - - - 15

3.2 The Idea of Right - - - - - - 18

3.3 The State - - - - - - - - 22

3.4 The Individual as Bearer of Rights - - - - 28

3.5 The Relationship between individual Rights and the State 33

CHAPTER FOUR: CRITICS OF HEGEL’S CONCEPT OF RIGHT

4.1 Arnold Ruge’s Critique - - - - - 41

4.2 Soren Kierkegaard’s Criticism - - - - 42

4.3 Marx’s Feuerbachian Critique - - - - - 43

4.4 Bertrand Russell’s Criticism - - - - - - 46

4.5 Karl Popper’s Attack - - - - - 48

CHAPTER FIVE: CONTEXTUAL RELEVANCE OF HEGEL’S RIGHT IN CONTEMPORARY SETTING

5.1 Freedom - - - - - - - - 51

5.2 Civil Society - - - - - - - 53

5.3 Recognition - - - - - - - 57

5.4 Rule of Law - - - - - - 61

SUMMARY

CONCLUSION.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.