The logical course of history. Ferdinand Lassalle and late Hegelianism

Abstract

<p>The paper discusses Ferdinand Lassalle’s (1825–64) activities in the Philosophical Society of Berlin (Philosophische Gesellschaft zu Berlin). The society was founded in 1843 by some former students of G.W.F. Hegel. Lassalle joined the society soon after he had published his work on the philosophy of Heraclitus. The paper focuses on two talks, which Lassalle gave at the meetings of the society. The first talk (1859) elaborates Karl Rosenkranz’ work on Hegel’s logic. The other talk (1862) thematizes J.G. Fichte’s philosophy and his significance for German nationalism. I argue that there is a continuum between the two talks. In the first talk Lassalle provides his definition for the logical course of history, which he then exemplifies in the case of Germany in the second talk.<br></p>