Hegel’s World Revolutions

G.W.F. Hegel was a great philosopher whose work has shaped debates about religion, aesthetics, and metaphysics. Richard Bourke's book "Hegels World Revolutions" returns to Hegel's original arguments, clarifying their true import and illuminating their relevance to contemporary society. Bourke explores Hegel's philosophy of history, placing it in the context of his own time and recounting the reception of his political ideas. He challenges the postwar revolt against Hegel and argues that his disparagement by major philosophers has impoverished our approach to history and politics.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

G.W.F. Hegel, widely regarded as the greatest philosopher of his era, has left an indelible mark on philosophical discourse. His profound insights have shaped discussions on a wide range of topics, including religion, aesthetics, and metaphysics. His most enduring legacy lies in his vision of history and politics. In his book, Hegels World Revolutions, Richard Bourke delves into Hegel's original arguments, elucidating their true significance and shedding light on their relevance to contemporary society. Bourke demonstrates that at the core of Hegel's thought lies his profound understanding of the modern world. On the one hand, he celebrated modernity as a liberation from subjugation, while on the other, he recognized its potential to unleash the spirit of critical reflection. Bourke explores this dichotomy through the lens of a series of world revolutions that Hegel believed played a pivotal role in the rise of civil society and the establishment of the constitutional state.

Bourke interprets Hegel's thought, drawing upon his philosophy of history, and contextualizes it within the historical backdrop of his own time. He then traces the reception of Hegel's political ideas, primarily during the twentieth century. In a powerful counterargument to the postwar anti-Hegel insurgency, Bourke argues that the disparagement of Hegel by prominent philosophers has impoverished our understanding of history and politics. Challenging the condescension of esteemed thinkers such as Heidegger, Popper, Lévi-Strauss, and Foucault, the bookRevisionist prevailing perspectives on the relationship between historical ideas and present circumstances.

Through his meticulous scholarship and insightful analysis, Bourke restores Hegel's ideas to their rightful place in the philosophical discourse. He demonstrates how Hegel's insights can provide valuable guidance in navigating the complexities of our contemporary world. Hegels World Revolutions is a must-read for anyone interested in philosophy, history, and politics, as it offers a fresh perspective on one of the most influential thinkers of the past century.

Weight: 606g
Dimension: 147 x 225 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691250182