Hegel's social and political thought: An introduction - Bernard Cullen

This book offers a concise exposition of the social and political thought of G. W. F. Hegel (1770–1831), one of the most influential figures in the history of ideas. It will be particularly welcomed by students of politics and philosophy hitherto deterred by Hegel's impenetrable style and formidable technical vocabulary. The author, Dr Bernard Cullen, explains the main tenets of Hegel's social and political philosophy in accessible language, and conveys at the same time the richness of Hegel's thought.

Hegel's early writings on religion, politics and economics reveal his concern for the breakdown in society occasioned, in his view, by the development of individual freedom and the institution of private property.

Dr Cullen lays particular emphasis on Hegel's depiction, long before Marx, of the dehumanising effects of industrialisation. The author shows how in the Philosophy of Right, the mature statement of his social and political thought, Hegel attempted to describe a harmonious 'rational state' in which the conflicts between private interests and communal responsibilities are overcome.

This careful account of Hegel's work is neither unsympathetic nor adulatory, and it also critically appraises Hegel's relevance today. It will appeal to all students of modern political theory, and particularly to students of Marx who wish to learn more about his Hegelian background.