L'eredità di Jaobi. Hegel e la critica al principio morale della ragione

The article points out the influence of Jacobi on Hegel’s ethical thought. To this aim I will consider the Review of the third volume of Jacobi’s Works, the Encyclopaedia of the philosophical Sciences as well as the Outlines of the Philosophy of Right. I will suggest that Hegel’s concept of moral conscience as a dialectical individual derives from Jacobi’s critical examination of post-kantian philosophies. Specifically Jacobi’s new appreciation of ancient ethics represents a relevant inspiration for Hegel’s own concept of ethical life. Despite this affinity, I will examine his criticism regarding Jacobi’s idea of absolute and objective spirit. In Hegel’s opinion, the lack of a consistent theory of modern ethical life easily allows a misunderstanding of moral conscience and its dialectics. I will conclusively argue that Hegel doesn’t accuse Jacobi of the misunderstanding but the authors of early romanticism philosophies.