Institutions of freedom – Axel Honneth’s reading of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right

Abstract

In order to achieve a new understanding of modern society in the 21st century, Axel Honneth’s practical philosophy draws on Hegel’s famous Elements of the Philosophy of Right. The core and systematic structure of the Hegelian concept of freedom is analysed, focussing on the notion of abstract right. By identifying legal, social and political rights as yet incomplete but necessary elements of freedom, Honneth gains the theoretical means to establish a current philosophy of freedom and justice. Thus, he is also correcting the conservative picture of his famous predecessor in rethinking modern society on the basis of the idea of freedom once again.