Freedom and History in the Political Theory of International Relations

Abstract

In this chapter I propose to consider the resources which philosophical history makes available to the contemporary theorist of international relations. A more detailed discussion of this perspective allows the formulation of a new approach to the problem of men and citizens in part three.

Imagination has often pictured to itself the emotions of a blind man suddenly becoming possessed of sight, beholding the bright glimmering of the dawn, the growing light, and the flaming glory of the ascending Sun. The boundless forgetfulness of his individuality in this pure splendour, is his first feeling — utter astonishment. But when the Sun is risen, this astonishment is diminished;… Then inactive contemplation is quitted for activity; by the close of day man has erected a building constructed from his own inner Sun; and when in the evening he contemplates this, he esteems it more highly than the original external Sun. For now he stands in a conscious relation to his Spirit, and therefore a free relation. If we hold this image fast in mind, we shall find it symbolising the course of History, the great Day’s work of Spirit. (Hegel)