The tragic Inversion of the Sense of Action

Abstract

Through the analyses of certain passages of Chapter VI of the Phenomenology of Spirit, this paper show how Hegel uses Greek tragedy to design a model of conflictive development of the relationship between society and State. The thread of this reading is the concept of inversion (Verkehrung) which appears closely related to that of action (Handlung). This paper shows, in conclusion, that the reduction of this tragic comprehension of the ethical to the conflictive terrns between civil society and State in the Philosophy of Lawimplies great losses, but not irretrievable ones.