Book Review: Politics with Beauvoir: Freedom in the Encounter, by Lori Jo Marso

• DOI: 10.1177/0090591718782183
• Published date: 01 February 2019
• Author: Sonia Kruks
• Date: 01 February 2019
• Subject Matter: Book Reviews

Book Reviews 121

conceptual and political conflicts and their resolutions. Each understands

normativity as grounded in the activities of persons who are bound together

through recognitive relations. The divine only plays a symbolic or metaphori-

cal role in the non-metaphysical reading. Farneth adopts this picture, but does

little to challenge or extend it. Admittedly, Farneth does emphasize the reli-

gious aspects of Hegel’s thought, but these aspects appear to be subordinate

to the larger aim of the book: articulating Hegel’s vision of social ethics.

Indeed, even Hegel contends that the Christian religion offers an incomplete

and representational form of absolute knowing.

Further, the book does not address one of the most pressing questions for

modern democracies: that of how to deal with views that are unreasonable and

intolerant. Some political ideologies are constitutionally opposed to recogniz-

ing others. Many modern conflicts do not take the form of the conflict between

the wicked and the judging consciousness, but are characterized by deep dis-

agreements about which persons are even worthy of recognition. Additionally,

it seems that citizens can more easily unite, discuss norms, and hold public

officials and institutions responsible in relation to local politics or the political

organization of a small social movement. Farneth discusses the Occupy move-

ment and the civil rights movement as examples of this latter category.

When we broaden the scope to national politics, especially within the

United States, it is not clear what Hegelian reciprocal recognition and

accountability would look like. Indeed, US citizens vote in national elections,

but the mechanisms necessary for wide and deep communal conversation and

organization seem to be lacking. This, of course, is not a criticism of the

Hegelian ideal, but an expression of skepticism about its applicability to large

political populations.

Ultimately, Hegel’s Social Ethics is a great introduction to Hegel’s

Phenomenology and his political philosophy. Those unfamiliar with Hegel

will be enlightened by this work. Those familiar with Hegel, and especially

recent non-metaphysical readings of Hegel, will find Farneth’s book to be a

welcome refresher. Farneth presents a vision of social ethics that is worthy of

consideration and extension.

Politics with Beauvoir: Freedom in the Encounter, by Lori Jo Marso. Durham, NC: Duke

University Press, 2017, 272 pp, US$29.95, ISBN 978-0822369707.

Reviewed by: Sonia Kruks, Department of Politics, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH

DOI: 10.1177/0090591718782183