Hegel’s Externalization of Justice: From the Rabble to True Personhood

Hegel’s account of justice is rooted in a conception of identity as intersubjectively constituted. This aspect lends Hegel’s theory of justice a unique suitability to address dimensions of political life often overlooked by dominant paradigms in political philosophy, such as Kantian constructivism. In light of these considerations, this chapter explores how Hegel’s logic of justice is manifested in his conception of property, particularly in its connection to the fundamental dynamic of alienation (Entausserung) and in Hegel’s analysis of the notion of Vermögen (capacity/resource). This chapter then considers Hegel’s analysis of the phenomenon of the “rabble” (Pobel), arguing that it can be seen as a prototypical instance of systemic injustice. Hegel’s analysis, it is argued, offers a fruitful lens for approaching the surge of populism witnessed in the past decade. In the concluding section, this chapter explores the interplay between individual agency and external resources. It contends that actively engaging with historical memories and embracing a transformative process serve as crucial catalysts for the necessary changes to overcome systemic injustice and fully realize freedom in true personhood.