HEGEL'S SOCIAL ONTOLOGY

NIEN-FENG CHIANG, Purdue University

Abstract

This study is aimed at dealing with Hegel's social ontology. We try to show what its structure is, how it is formed, and in what ways we can criticize it meaningfully. Our study of the social ontology of Hegel's social and political philosophy approaches it from within the contexts of (1) Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Ethics and Politics, (2) Hobbes' Leviathan, Rousseau's Discourse on the Origin of Inequality and Social Contract, and Kant's first and second Critiques and Metaphysical Elements of Justice, and (3) Marx's communist, Sartre's existentialist, and Popper's positivist political theories. This study of Hegel's social ontology therefore consists of three parts. In the first part, we focus our attention upon the relationship between contract theory (mainly Hobbes', Rousseau's, and Kant's theories) and the genesis of Hegel's social ontology. We try to show how Hegel's social ontology is formed in the course of undertaking a dialogue with contract theory. In the second part, we try to solve a debate concerning the conceptual relationship among the ethical theories of Plato, Aristotle, and Hegel. This part is aimed at showing where the source of Hegel's ethical ideal lies, and how he adjusts his social ontology to this ideal. In the third part, we undertake two tasks. The first is that we try to defend Hegel's ethical theory against Popper's critique by means of pointing out that the philosophical standpoint of the former lies in reason, while that of the latter lies in the understanding. Thus the conceptual conflict between Hegel and Popper is due to the conflict of different philosophical paradigms. The second task is that we discuss another two ways, those offered by Marx and Sartre, of criticizing Hegel's social ontology. We try to argue that Hegel's social ontology is based on his observation and interpretation of the French Revolution. And this implies that different ways of viewing this gigantic movement serve as possible starting-points and bases for building different kinds of social ontology. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)

Degree

Ph.D.

Subject Area

Philosophy

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