Publisher's Synopsis
This work has two main themes. The first is HegelÆs attitudes towards natural law. The second is HegelÆs relationship to the various political ideologies. It is argued that these two themes are closely related. It is impossible to local HegelÆs political thought in ideological terms without an adequate understanding of his attitude towards natural law. Part One considers whether Hegel is a natural law theorist or a legal positivist. It is claimed that HegelÆs attitude towards natural law has been misunderstood, largely because of the erroneous view which his interpreters have of natural law theory. It is concluded that Hegel is a natural law theorist, though of an unconventional type. Part Two considers whether Hegel is a liberal or a totalitarian thinker. It is argued that actually he is neither. Hegel is a conservative thinker. He subscribes to a conservative conception of natural law.
