Concept of the Ethical and its Interpretation in Hegel᾿ s System of Ethical Life

Abstract

This article analyzes the work of G.W.F. Hegel “System of ethical life”, written during his life in Jena. This is one of first Hegel᾿s attempts to develop a systematic view on the problem of the ethical. The manuscript, which remained unpublished during the philosopher᾿s lifetime, is a very unusual text on the ground of not only its content but also on the ground of Hegel᾿s methodology. The influence of Schelling᾿s philosophy of identity on this text is obvious, but at the same time, Hegel’s independent thought is already noticeable, and not always consistent with Schelling᾿s ideas. The author explore the methodological features of the Hegelian text, interprets the meaning of the essencial concepts, considers the main substantial points, and also gives a number of interpretations of “System of ethical life” made by some russian and foreign researchers.