The Impact of Idealism
The Legacy of Post-Kantian German Thought

The second volume in this unique set provides an account of German Idealism's impact on historical, social and political thought.

Nicholas Boyle (General editor), Liz Disley (General editor), John Walker (Edited by)

9781107039834, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 November 2013

397 pages
25.2 x 18.2 x 2.3 cm, 0.95 kg

'The Impact of Idealism is a monumental achievement, a bold attempt to fathom the legacy of German idealism in every sphere of culture. The extent and the depth of the enterprise, in its four volumes, is staggering. Nothing like it has been done before, and it is unlikely that anything like it will ever be attempted again. It is the product of an impressive array of scholars, virtually everyone who is anyone in the field. It is sure to be the standard work on the subject. Anyone whose work touches on German idealism, which is almost all of us, will need to read it.' Frederick Beiser, Syracuse University

The first study of its kind, The Impact of Idealism assesses the impact of classical German philosophy on science, religion and culture. This second volume explores German Idealism's impact on the historical, social and political thought of the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Each essay focuses on an idea or concept from the high point of German philosophy around 1800, tracing out its influence on the intervening period and its importance for contemporary discussions. New light is shed on key developments of Idealist thought, such as Marxism, Critical Theory and feminism, and previously unexamined areas of Idealism's influence are discussed for the first time. This unique, interdisciplinary collection traces the impact of Kant, Hegel, Schelling, Fichte and others in Britain, Europe, North America and beyond. Its insights represent vital contributions to their respective fields, as well as to our understanding of German Idealism itself.

Introduction: idealism in historical, social and political thought John Walker
1. From transcendental idealism to political realism Onora O'Neill
2. The public of the intellectuals – from Kant to Lyotard William Rasch
3. Idealism and the idea of a constitution Chris Thornhill
4. German Idealism and Marx Douglas Moggach
5. Ethos, nature and education in Johann Erich von Berger and Friedrich Adolf Trendelenburg Steffen Wagner
6. The concept of philosophy of culture in neo-Kantianism Stephan Nachtsheim
7. After materialism. Reflections of idealism in Lebensphilosophie: Dilthey, Bergson and Simmel David Midgley
8. 'Rationalisation', 'reification', 'instrumental reason' Fred Rush
9. Freedom within nature: Adorno on the idea of reason's autonomy Brian O'Connor
10. German neo-Hegelianism and the plea for another Hegel Andreas Grossmann
11. Idealism and the fascist corporative state Irene Stolzi
12. Love and recognition in Fichte, Hegel, and Simone de Beauvoir Sabine Doyé and Marion Heinz
13. Giving an account of oneself amongst others: Hegel, Judith Butler and social ontology Liz Disley
14. Idealism in the German tradition of meta-history Jörn Rüsen.

Subject Areas: History of Western philosophy [HPC], Social & cultural history [HBTB], European history [HBJD]