A POLITICS WITHOUT COMPROMISE: THE YOUNG HEGELIANS AND POLITICS

Vivien García

doi:10.21814/eps.2.1.95

Abstract

This article aims at exploring how most of the Young Hegelians came toreject all forms of compromise. It will first show how Young Hegelianism itself wasborn from a process of radicalisation. Then, it will expound some of the theoreticaldevelopments that this process produced and explain why and how all forms ofcompromise came to be rejected. For Young Hegelians, a compromise is an antidialecticalposition. It consists in the adoption of a median posture, which does notcorrespond with a real mediation. It is a way of deflating conflicts and, moreprecisely, to avoid the oppositions at work in history being unveiled in their purity.

Highlights

For a long time, the Young Hegelian movement has been considered as an epiphenomenon — or a transitional form — in the history of the Hegelian schoolEthics, Politics & Society and in the history of ideas in general
An increasing number of recent studies have revealed the great interest of Young Hegelian reflections and demonstrated they can greatly deepen our understanding of political modernity and, our present political condition
One of the key elements of Young Hegelian views seems somehow marginal in the history of modern political philosophy: the absolute rejection of all forms of compromise

Summary

Introduction

The Young Hegelian movement has been considered as an epiphenomenon — or a transitional form — in the history of the Hegelian school. One of the key elements of Young Hegelian views seems somehow marginal in the history of modern political philosophy: the absolute rejection of all forms of compromise. This article aims at exploring this aspect. It will first show how Young Hegelianism itself was born from a process of radicalisation, as a result of several breaks. It will expound some of the theoretical developments that this process produced and explain why and how all forms of compromise came to be rejected

Ruptures in the Hegelian School

A Politics without Compromise

Swerving from Hegel

Moderates and “juste milieu”

Theory of terrorism and politics of love

Conclusion