Question

discuss the textual and contextual method of reading a classic with reference to terence ball​

Answer 1

Answer:

The rise of fascism and communism prompted investigation into the philosophical roots of modern totalitarianism. The roots, once one starts looking, appears to be present everywhere. Plato’s philosopher king, Machiavelli’s ruthless prince, Hobbes’s all-powerful sovereign and Rousseau’s all-wise legislator all seem to be precursors to totalitarian rulers of the 20th century.

A prominent representative of this perspective is Karl Popper’s The Open Society and its Enemies (1945). He interprets Hegel’s remark ‘what is rational is actual and what is actual is rational’ in the “Preface” to the Philosophy of Right as justifying everything that is now real (or “actual”) exists by necessity and must thus be reasonable and good (“rational”). Hegel is seen as giving his philosophical blessing to the proto-totalitarian Prussian state which existed at the time.