Bildung in the competition state. What is Hegel’s contribution today?

Authors

• Reijo Miettinen Helsingin yliopisto

Abstract

This paper deals with the redefinition of Bildung in the competition state. The recent Anglo-American non-metaphysical reading of Hegel finds his theory, first of all, as a political theory that studies the historical-institutional conditions of freedom and self-development of individuals. The paper suggests that it also provides a valuable starting point for the redefinition of Bildung. It introduces four Hegelian concepts that serve the purpose: ethical life (Sittlichkeit), work and finding one’s way in the division of labour, immanent critique as a method of moral reasoning and recognition.