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Bernard Bosanquet on the Ethical System of the State

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British Idealism and the Concept of the Self

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Abstract

This paper explores the relation between ethics, politics and the self in the political philosophy of Bernard Bosanquet, focusing mainly on his Philosophical Theory of the State. It is argued that for Bosanquet the state is an ethical system aiming at the realisation of the best life or common good, something which is an end both of the social whole itself and of the individuals who comprise it. For Bosanquet, the ethical system of the state provides the necessary institutions and social meanings which can unite individuals together in ethical human fellowship. The chief components of the ethical system of the state are ethical life, the metaphysics of the self, institutions as ethical ideas, and ethical citizenship. The paper analyses each of these in turn.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Stamatoula Panagakou

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  1. Stamatoula Panagakou
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harris Manchester College, Oxford, United Kingdom

    W. J. Mander

  2. University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Stamatoula Panagakou

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Panagakou, S. (2016). Bernard Bosanquet on the Ethical System of the State. In: Mander, W., Panagakou, S. (eds) British Idealism and the Concept of the Self. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-46671-6_8

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