Hegel on Freedom and Authority

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Hegel's conception of civil society endorses a market economy and adheres firmly to a liberal outlook. But his conception of the state culminates in an authoritarian prince who acts as protector of the constitution. However, the tensions and contradictions that plague Hegel's liberal society, and which cannot be resolved by its own civil institutions, motivate his conservative authoritarianism. Cristi suggests that Hegel contrasts freedom and authority, and seeks to intensify their opposition to the highest degree, but does so thinking that in extremis he can bring forth their reconciliation. Hegel's political philosophy is thus the first full-blown modern liberal authoritarian manifesto.

Author Bio

Renato Cristi is Professor of Philosophy at Wilfred Laurier University, Canada. He has written widely on issues in contemporary political philosophy, particularly on Schmitt, Hayek and Hegel. He is also the author of Carl Schmitt and Authoritarian Liberalism (UWP, 1998)