‘A State by a Sort of Courtesy’: T.H Green’s theory of the state as a critique of Czarism

Tyler, Colin

Abstract

The chapter is structured as follows. Section two briefly sketches Thomas Hill Green’s early attitudes to Russia. Section three analyses Green’s mature conception of “the state” and considers its influence on his mature attitude towards Czarism. Section four expands on that analysis by examining the contrasts that Green drew between that conception, the ancient polis and Hegel’s conception of the state. It will be shown that Green regarded the polis and the Hegelian state as highly imperfect entities. With this mind, section five explores the ways in which Green’s conception of the ideal state entailed an analysis of “true” and “false” patriotism. Section six explores the enabling role that the state should play for its citizens. The chapter concludes in section seven with an overview of the argument.

• Book Title: Etica, Politica, Storia universale
• APA6 Citation: Tyler, C. (in press). ‘A State by a Sort of Courtesy’: T.H Green’s theory of the state as a critique of Czarism. In Etica, Politica, Storia universale