Some considerations on the relationship between the Elements of the Philosophy of Law and The Science of Logic. An approach from Slavoj Žižek

Abstract

While contemporary interpreters of Hegel have generally made significant efforts to distance themselves from the metaphysical aspects of his work, this separation appears incongruent with the understanding provided by the author himself, beyond the explanatory value that such distancing may lend. On the contrary, considering the effective relationship between the Elements of the Philosophy of Law and The Science of Logic, the development of the concept and its implications for the concept of law can only be adequately understood through a joint reading of both works. In this sense, a radical perspective on the consequences of Hegel’s thought is offered by Žižek, who sees the philosopher from Stuttgart as a continuation of the Kantian critical project but taken to its ultimate conclusions. This interpretation has a series of consequences for understanding Hegel’s legal thought that not only allows for a restricted view to the author’s era but also enables an approach to the legal matters in our time.