Diversion in the Concept "Positivity" in Hegel's Political Philosophy

Abstract

In this essay the concept "positivity" and its diversion in Hegel's early thought (the Berne Era 1793-96 and the Frankfurt Era 1797-1800) are studied. Diversion of the concept "positivity" as the dominance of a system contradicting genuine freedom, necessitates Hegel's passage from the pure religious literature of Berne Era to the specifically political literature of Frankfurt Era. Accordingly, in comparison to the Berne Era, in the Frankfurt Era Hegel pays attention to a vaster social context which includes much more politico-economical elements. This essay is to explain the concept "positivity" according to Hegel's texts belonging to both eras and to show that Hegel could not find a way to eliminate "positivity" in both eras.

Keywords

• positivity
• enlightenment
• morality
• ethics
• Berne era
• Frankfurt era