Giulia Battistoni

The paper first analyzes some relevant passages from Kant’s essay On a Supposed Right to Lie Because of Philanthropic Concerns and his understanding of the right of necessity in the Metaphysics of Morals and in the essay On the Old Saw: That May Be Right in Theory But It Won’t Work in Practice, in order to reflect on the more general question of whether it is possible from the Kantian point of view to allow legitimate exceptions to the moral principle. It then focuses on some aspects of Hegel’s theory of action in the Outlines of the Philosophy of Right to emphasize his attention to the context and consequences of action and then show how Hegel addresses or would address the same problems related to responsibility in cases of exception from the commonly valid and accepted moral and legal norm. This will bring to light two different perspectives with respect to how to ground responsibility, which still provide important insights today.

This brief introduction sets the stage for the central aim of this issue of Ethics in Progress devoted to Hegel: to underscore the enduring relevance of his thought, in particular his Philosophy of Nature and his Realphilosophie, in addressing contemporary challenges. While Hegel may appear to some as an abstract thinker, seemingly surpassed by the demands of our era, the core elements of his philosophy – particularly the dialectical method, his reflections on the complex relationship between Natur (nature) and Geist (spirit), and key concepts such as Anerkennung (recognition) and Wille (will) – continue to provide a vital conceptual framework for addressing pressing issues of our time. These include the environmental crisis and the evolving dynamics between humanity, nature, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. Consequently, this issue strives to approach Hegel through the lens of our contemporary experience, not to distort or “denaturalize” his thought, nor to fall into the trap of anachronism, but to breathe new life into the concept. By doing so, it invites the reader to listen anew to what Hegel’s philosophy might still teach us today.

Vittorio Hösle è riconosciuto a livello internazionale per l’importante tentativo di riproporre l’idealismo oggettivo – la linea filosofica lungo la quale egli riconosce muoversi la posizione di Platone, Aristotele, della maggior parte dei filosofi medievali, di Spinoza, Leibniz, Schelling, Hegel, ma anche di Peirce e Whitehead – come un sistema filosofico capace di tenere assieme la dimensione trascendentale dei giudizi sintetici a priori con l’intelligibilità e oggettività dell’essere. In questa intervista, Hösle ripercorre le tappe del suo lavoro degli ultimi decenni, a partire dai ‘Philosophische Lehrjahre’ (‘anni di apprendistato filosofico’) tra Ratisbona, Tubinga, Bochum e Friburgo e dall’incontro con maestri e interlocutori significativi (tra i quali Tóth, Thieme, Wandschneider, Beierwaldes, Lohr, Böckenförde, senza dimenticare Apel e Jonas). Molteplici i temi che costellano il cammino nel pensiero ripercorso in questo dialogo: dalla ritematizzazione dell’idealismo oggettivo di Hegel (e Vico) attraverso la pragmatica trascendentale alla delineazione del rapporto tra etica e politica mediante una teoria del sociale e l’intento di una fondazione normativa; dalla necessità di un pensiero che fronteggi la crisi ecologica alla reinterpretazione della sociobiologia; infine, dalla progettazione di una comprensione intersoggettivamente valida all’importanza di una teoria del comico. Ne emerge l’autoritratto filosofico di un intellettuale cosmopolita che ha saputo cogliere il meglio dalle tradizioni culturali ereditate e acquisite: la cultura tedesca, ereditata dal padre; la cultura italiana, ereditata dalla madre; la cultura americana, acquisita con il trasferimento negli USA. L’intervista è stata realizzata il 17 aprile 2024 all’Università di Trento come parte della seconda serie di lezioni intitolate “Voices from Contemporary Philosophy”.

Karl Heinrich Gros nunca ha sido considerado hasta ahora como una posible fuente en el desarrollo de la teoría de la imputación y la acción de Hegel. Este trabajo demuestra la influencia de su ensayo Über die Ideen der Alten vom Schicksal (1795) en la comprensión de Hegel de la dialéctica entre imputación, destino y castigo con especial referencia a la historia de Edipo. Tras presentar a Gros y su papel en el siglo XVIII en Alemania y después de reconstruir los principales argumentos de su ensayo (1.), la segunda parte del trabajo se centra en la comprensión de Hegel del Edipo Rey, subrayando las diferencias y similitudes con la lectura de Gros (2). Esto mostrará su relevancia dentro del proyecto más amplio de la teoría de la imputación de Hegel en su Filosofía del Derecho.

Responsibility is a central juridical, moral and social concept that calls on individuals to act in ways that are necessary and morally right. It represents a fundamental normative relationship that bridges abstract philosophical ideas with empirical social realities. Despite its everyday importance, the derivation and application of responsibility are complex and often contested. This article explores the meaning and conditions under which responsibility can be justifiably demanded, as well as its practical enforceability. Responsibility is understood as a normative relationship with both moral and legal dimensions, constructed through social interactions. A responsible practice requires intersubjective agreement on the reasons and motives for actions, enabling the formulation and implementation of ethical justifications.

This issue of Ethics in Progress titled Unfolding Life – The Dialectic of the Living in Hegel’s Thought. Philosophical Foundations and Contemporary Resonances builds upon the discussions initiated in issue no. 2/2024 of the journal, which explored the enduring relevance of Hegel’s early philosophy through the theme Nature and Spirit. While continuing along that trajectory into Hegel’s mature philosophy, the present issue narrows its focus to a central dimension of Hegel’s Philosophy of Nature: the concept of life in its diverse manifestations. The contributions investigate various forms of living being – plant, animal, and human – examining their underlying impulses, structural dynamics, and vulnerabilities. Together, the essays highlight how Hegelian philosophy offers critical resources for engaging with contemporary questions about the nature and conditions of life.