All Out War in Defense of the Ethical Substance: Three Modern Examples

This episode explores how states respond to traumatic attacks through the lens of Hegel’s political philosophy.For Hegel, the state is not just a political structure but the living reality of ethical life — the place where freedom becomes concrete. When a nation is struck by a sudden and violent assault, such as Israel on 7 October, the United States at Pearl Harbor, or during the 9/11 attacks, the shock reaches far deeper than physical damage. It disrupts the ethical order that holds a society together.Hegel teaches that the state’s highest law is its own preservation, and that it must respond not only to actual harm but also to emerging dangers. That is why these attacks triggered large‑scale, long‑term military campaigns: the state was compelled to restore its integrity and reassert its independence. Such responses are not merely strategic choices but necessary movements of self‑preservation.In the immediate aftermath, nations often experience a surge of unity, as individuals feel themselves part of a shared ethical whole. Yet over time, this unity gives way to debate and reflection — a natural part of the state’s dialectical life. Each of these historical moments also led to a redefinition of national security, as the state adapted to new realities in order to safeguard its freedom.Seen through Hegel’s eyes, these responses are not isolated events but expressions of a deeper pattern: when the ethical world is shaken, the state must act to restore its totality. In confronting vulnerability, it renews the foundations of its own existence.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-philosophy-channel--4573240/support."Dare to use your own reason" - Immanuel Kant