The End of Capitalism and its Future: Hegel as Founder of the Concept of a Welfare State

Abstract

A key part of Hegel’s practical philosophy is his theory of civil society and the idea of a rational regulation of the market. This is the foundation of Hegel’s theory of a social state. The copyright on the notion of a modern society of freedom and a rational, social state belongs to Hegel. Hegel proves himself to be the thinker who until now has provided the most convincing foundation for freedom in modernity. The theoretical foundation and at the same time bone of contention of Hegel’s political thought is to be found in his concept of ethical life (Sittlichkeit), in particular in his theory of civil society. The current shipwreck of deregulated capitalism does not mean the foundering of our journey towards a free society. Nevertheless the deficiencies and unsustainability of both traditional models – socialist collective ownership and market fundamentalism – exhibit two contradictory claims to a share of the wealth of nations. To take up Hegel’s project is, in essence, to aim at a new conception of an environmentally and socially sustainable and just society, and a corresponding world order. It is to further Hegel’s philosophy of freedom.

Ključni deo Hegelove praktične filozofije je njegova teorija građanskog društva i ideja racionalne regulacije tržišta. To je temelj Hegelove teorije socijalne države. On je idejni tvorac modernog društva slobode i racionalne, socijalne države. Pokazalo se da je Hegel mislilac koji je do sad na najuverljiviji način postavio temelj slobodi u modernom dobu. Teorijski temelj i istovremeno sporono mesto Hegelove političke misli se može pronaći u njegovom pojmu etičkog života (Sittlichkeit), posebno u njegovoj teoriji građanskog društva. Trenutni brodolom deregulisanog kapitalizma ne označava i potapanje našeg puta ka slobodnom društvu. Bez obzira, nedostaci i neodrživost oba tradicionalna modela – socijalističkog kolektivnog vlasništva i tržišnog fundamentalizma – izražavaju dva protivrečna zahteva za raspodelom bogatstva nacija. Nastaviti Hegelov projekat je, u suštini, težnja ka novoj ideji ekološki i socijalno održivog i pravednog društva, kao i odgovarajućeg svetskog poretka. To znači unaprediti Hegelovu filozofiju slobode.