Single Idea 22789

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 1. Purpose of a State]

Full Idea

Civil society is the immense power which draws people to itself and requires them to work for it, to owe everything to it, and to do everything by its means.

Gist of Idea

Society draws people, and requires their work, making them wholly dependent on it

Source

Georg W.F.Hegel (Elements of the Philosophy of Right [1821], 238 add)

Book Reference

Hegel,Georg W.F.: 'Elements of the Philosophy of Right', ed/tr. Wood,Allen W. [CUP 1991], p.263


A Reaction

This is the disturbing side of Hegel's quite attractive communitarian thinking. His general picture is of the state prescribing what is required of its citizens, with little scope for citizens to prescribe what they need from the state. See Popper.