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Single Idea 21787

[from 'Elements of the Philosophy of Right' by Georg W.F.Hegel, in 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / b. Intellectualism ]

Full Idea

The evil Hegel finds at the heart of the good will is not simply the criminal violation of rights, but the evil which lies in believing oneself to be doing what is truly good, while allowing no one but oneself to determine what the good actually is.

Gist of Idea

Evil enters a good will when we believe we are doing right, but allow no criticism of our choice

Source

report of Georg W.F.Hegel (Elements of the Philosophy of Right [1821]) by Stephen Houlgate - An Introduction to Hegel 08 'The Problem'

Book Reference

Houlgate,Stephen: 'An Introduction to Hegel' [Blackwell 2005], p.194


A Reaction

That is not intellectualism, but the implication that intellectualism is a potential source of evil. The interesting thought is that Hegel is contributing a social dimension to the weakness of will problem.