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Kantian Journal

2026 Vol. 45. №1

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Zilber A. S.

Legal Aspects of State Reform: Kantian Motives in the Philosophy of Sergey Hessen

DOI
10.5922/0207-6918-2026-1-5
Pages
97-129
Kant Sergey Hessen rule-of-law socialism freedom equality Neo-Kantianism

Abstract

This article compares the ideological foundations of the political projects of Sergey Hessen (Gessen) and Immanuel Kant as projects of political development and transformation, i.e. gradual reform. The starting point is the project of “rule-of-law socialism” which Hessen saw as a synthesis of the new liberalism and new socialism of his time. The main question is overt or covert reception of Kant’s ideas in this project. Kant and Hessen share historical optimism and reject utopias, but the core of Hessen’s philosophy of history is the transformation of Neo-Kantian doctrine of values. The influence of the Baden school of Neo-Kantianism can also be traced in the fact that Hessen defines the stages in the development of liberalism and socialism in accordance with Hegel’s dialectical method. But while Hessen’s “rule-of-law socialism” combines liberal values, i.e. law and freedom, with the socialist values of welfare and equal opportunities, Kant’s political philosophy on the whole belongs to classical liberalism which emphasises law and freedom. But for Hessen Kant, as it were, stands aside from liberalism and is perceived first and foremost as a moral philosopher, author of the teaching on the freedom and autonomy of the individual which should be protected even under socialism. Hessen interprets the relationship between right and good differently from Kant, without turning to him for support, although similarities of their ideas exist. The situation is similar in the interpretation of the concept of the social contract and the common will, which are equally important for both philosophers as reference points, but their ideas on how to achieve them differ substantially. A separate section is devoted to the comparison of the principles of property relations, Kant’s anti-feudal theses and Hessen’s anti-monopoly theses. On details, Hessen’s project of “rule-of-law socialism” has more differences than similarities to Kant’s ideas, but is similar to Kant’s in spirit. An analysis of Kant’s ideas from Hessen’s viewpoint shows that some provisions of Kant’s philosophy are formulated in such a way that they do not fully apply to Hessen’s critique of classical liberalism.

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