Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Abstract

This dissertation got its start when I realized that a convergent reading of Hegel and Kierkegaard may be possible on the topic of love and politics. That is not a capricious topic, but one that has become central in contemporary political philosophy besides being at the heart of what Christianity is about, and I will address it with the goal of making love politically operative today. So, before I immerse myself into Hegel and Kierkegaard, I will investigate some contemporary political philosophers who, although with different perspectives, agree that love is a significant concept for philosophy and politics: Roberto Mangabeira Unger, Martha Nussbaum, and two authors who have been writing collaboratively, Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri. And since I want love to be politically effective and not a mere ideal, I will submit these political philosophers to what I, inspired by Merold Westphal, call the motivation and enablement test: what would motivate us as their readers to try to enact this love; and even if we are so motivated, how might we be enabled to do so to any significant degree?

Hegel and Kierkegaard are two prolific and complex authors, so I will concentrate on Hegel’s Philosophy of Right and Kierkegaard’s Works of Love, devote one chapter to each of these works, and submit these authors as well to the motivation ad enablement test. Next, I will attempt the convergent reading that prompted this dissertation. Finally, I will reread and review my expected convergent reading considering what I intend to learn from and with the contemporary political philosophers and offer an overall goal and more immediate goals toward a politically operative love for today.

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