The Metaphysical Theory of the State

by Leonard Trelawney Hobhouse

Originally published in 1918, this enduring work by renowned sociologist and Liberal politician Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse encompasses a series of five key lectures, first delivered at the London School of Economics in the autumn of 1917. Outlining Hobhouse's theories on social investigation, freedom, law and the will of the state, this edition revives an important work, which has long been unavailable.

101 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1918

About the author

Please note that works by this author have been printed using several variants of his name:

L.T. Hobhouse
L. T. Hobhouse
L T Hobhouse
Leonard T. Hobhouse

Because he is listed in The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, The Routledge Dictionary of Twentieth Century Political Thinkers, and The Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thinkers under the name 'Leonard Trelawney Hobhouse', all of his books have been brought together under that name.

Reviews

[Colm Gillis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a series of lectures that critiques the idealization of the state by British Hegelians like Bosanquet. Since Hegel and his followers are in the crossfire the focus is very much on the relation of the particular to the universal as embodied in citizen & state. A considerable effort is exerted in fleshing out how the individual will converges with the group will. Its an interesting read but is a lot of smoke. Themes are raised consistently without pointing out a possible resolution. Well written but not all that penetrating. A good source for studying ideas of British Hegelianism nonetheless.