The Problem of Political Authority in the Philosophy of Plato and Hegel

This dissertation examines the problem of political authority in Plato and Hegel. It is animated by an interest in the disavowal of authority characteristic of political culture today, and serves to fill gaps in the existing literature on German and Greek political philosophy. Contemporary scholarship on German Idealism follows Hegel in comparing 19th century critical philosophy to Greek philosophy, which it claims to surpass on account of its emphasis on subjective freedom. At the same time, contemporary reappraisals of Greek political thought hold up Plato and the classical teachings on rhetoric as promising alternatives to philosophy from Kant to Hegel, which is found to be overly rationalistic and insufficient in its treatment of political passion. Due to the division of scholarly labor, an adequate confrontation between classical political thought and German idealism remains wanting. Through a rigorous textual analysis of the Philosophy of Right and Gorgias, the dissertation expounds the Platonic and Hegelian approaches to the problem of political authority, and supplies the grounds for a dialogue between the two thinkers. On the basis of this preparatory work, it proceeds to take up the consolidation of political authority, or the production of obedience by the regime, insofar as Plato and Hegel disagree profoundly on that subject and its significance to political right. The dissertation presents the political philosophy of Plato and Hegel as robust and contesting alternatives, and concludes by returning to the challenge of political authority as it faces us today.