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About the English Reform Bill
註釋

A modern translation directly from the original manuscript of Hegel's essay discussing the English Reform Bill. Hegel both criticized and praised the 1832 The Representation of the People Act, which was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom that introduced major changes to the electoral system of England. This modern translation contains an afterword explaining this work's place in Hegel's larger philosophic system, the relevant historical background, and a timeline of his life and works. The modern language of the translation and scholarly apparatus are designed to orient the modern reader to Hegel's world in his time, and highlight the continued influence of Hegel in our day. Hegel, a generally inaccessible philosopher due to the sheer size and intricacy of his thought, is explained through the interpretation of Tolstoy, Nietzsche, Schopenhauer and Heidegger in this Afterword to make his historically important body of work accessible to the armchair philosopher.

This essay is a rare commentary by Hegel on contemporary politics. The text titled "Über die englische Reformbill" was first published in the "Allgemeine preußische Staatszeitung" in 1831, in issues numbered 115, 116, and 118. However, the conclusion of this text could not be published in the Staatszeitung, and it only appeared in a private print edition of the complete text. It argues that the reform aims to bring greater fairness and symmetry to the distribution of voting rights among different population classes and regions. The current inequality and anomalies in the electoral system are criticized, especially the fact that small towns and communities often have disproportionate influence on parliamentary elections, while larger cities are excluded. The text also points out that the purchase of parliamentary seats and the bribery of voters are widespread, indicating deep political corruption.

Hegel's final published work, "About the English Reform Bill," appeared just months before his death and represents his most sustained engagement with contemporary British politics. Written as the Reform Act of 1832 was being debated in Parliament, the piece revealed Hegel's deep concern with how modern constitutional systems could reconcile traditional institutions with demands for democratic reform. The article, published in the Allgemeine Preussische Staatszeitung, emerged from Hegel's longstanding interest in British political development and demonstrated his ability to apply his philosophical framework to concrete political analysis.


The essay provided a penetrating critique of Britain's existing parliamentary system, particularly focusing on the problems of "rotten boroughs" and uneven representation. However, Hegel's analysis went beyond simple support for reform, expressing serious reservations about the bill's approach. He worried that the proposed changes might destabilize Britain's organic political development by introducing abstract principles of representation without sufficient regard for existing social structures and institutions. His analysis reflected his broader philosophical skepticism toward political changes based purely on abstract rights or mathematical equality, preferring instead reforms that emerged from and preserved concrete social relationships and historical continuity.

The work stands as a fascinating application of Hegelian political philosophy to contemporary events, showing how his systematic thought could illuminate practical political questions. In analyzing England's political crisis, Hegel demonstrated his sophisticated understanding of the challenges facing modern states as they attempted to incorporate democratic principles while maintaining political stability and social cohesion. The essay also revealed his ongoing engagement with questions of political representation, constitutionalism, and the relationship between traditional institutions and modern democratic impulses - themes that had preoccupied him throughout his career. Its publication shortly before his death from cholera makes it a fitting capstone to his lifelong attempt to comprehend the rational structure of modern political life.