A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right

A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right (Ger: Zur Kritik der Hegelschen Rechtsphilosophie) was Karl Marx's critique of Hegelian idealism, a philosophical position which he had supported while he was a student but soon came to criticize. His critique, written throughout 1843–1844, focuses on G. W. F. Hegel's theory of the state, which had argued in abstract terms that states were the embodiment of all that society considered rational, and guided by a metaphysical "World Spirit."

Introduction

Marx begins by discussing the role of religion in society, that is, as a relief from pain. Here he famously states, "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, the spirit of spiritless conditions. It is the opium of the people (Opium des Volkes)." He discusses criticism of religion and accepts its basic arguments, but argues that religion, being a relief from human suffering, is a reflection of the real world, and thus, "The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo."

The rest of the introduction is devoted to a criticism of Germany's current political and intellectual state, which he considers to be backward, as well as a criticism of philosophical political movements. He singles out the Hegelians, accusing them of practicing only philosophical criticism rather than concrete political action: "In a word – You cannot abolish philosophy without making it a reality."

See also

• The German Ideology
• The Holy Family

External links

• Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right,, Marx's well-known introduction, at Marxists.org
• Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right in full, at Marxists.org