6In his Philosophy of Right, Hegel expounds on the social, moral and legal philosophies the author conceived of - together, these provide the cornerstone of law for the modern state.

Acting to summarise several key tenets of his philosophy, Hegel commences with a discussion of the notion of free will. Linking this process to the complex arrangements of property rights, family life, economics and other core aspects of a civilised society, the philosopher argues that free will is maximised when a person is able and willing to participate in all of these societal aspects.

Successively, Hegel sets out the three spheres of right - each of which subsume the previous, being part of a larger overall mechanism referred to as the state. Hegel pointedly state that his is by no means a complete list - the history of human society, as viewed by Hegel, has seen a succession of corrections and refinements of the state's role in individual society.

Translated by academic S. W. Hyde, this edition of Hegel's Philosophy of Right - also known by its complete title Elements of the Philosophy of Right - is authoritative, comprehensive and unabridged.