The question of the hegelian statism according Eric Weil

Abstract

The vision of Hegel as a conservative thinker is not an isolated phenomenon. To some critics, Hegel is commonly considered an apologist of the Prussian state and a philosopher of what is commonly called statism. Eric Weil, however, does not consider this definition as befitting a true portrayal of the German philosopher, resembling more a caricature. Accordingly, Weil argues for a reading of Hegelian political thought that calls into question this view, making a critique of the critique that, as Kant's moral rigorist or Plato is the philosopher of Ideas, as the philosopher Hegel puts statism and whom the individual is nothing and the state's all. To determine the extent to which this perspective has ballast, Weil argues in favor of an analysis of the political thought of Hegel, inquiring about the real extent that the State has within that thought. This is how it is possible to delimit the extent to which this portrait commonly traced to Hegel corresponds with reality.