The Founding Act of Modern Ethical LifeThis book argues that an essential part of Hegel's historical political thinking has escaped the notice of its interpreters. It is well known that Hegel conceives of history as the gradual progress of rational thought and of forms of political life. But he is usually thought to place himself at the end of this processhis philosophical end is to give a rational account of the end of this process, namely, modern ethical life. This overlooks the question