A Radical Hegelian: The Political and Social Philosophy of Henry Jones

By David Boucher & Andrew Vincent

Henry Jones was an important Edwardian philosopher whose concern with the application of philosophical principles to political problems and social reform has a continuing relevance; his interest in 'pure citizenship' and practical Hegelianism are constant themes in his work.

In his day he had an immense reputation in Britain, Canada, Australia and the USA. He gave extensive lecture tours in the two latter countries, and, in the USA, participated in the inauguration of the Rice Institute.

He was also an active liberal and knew many of the key political figures of this period - Asquith, Lloyd George, Lord Haldane and H.A.L. Fisher amongst others. In his own country of Wales, Jones, who rose to academic eminence from a poor rural background, was something of a culture-hero and was once described as 'in some respects the greatest living Welshman'.

This volume uses his thought as a catalyst to explore the various intricate debates at the close of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth on philosophy and metaphysics, theology and religion, evolution, citizenship and educational ideas, political ideologies, imperialism, and on the perception of events up to the First World War in the international relations theory. The book concludes with a short, personal, biographical reminiscence of Jones by his granddaughter.

This scholarly study will be of interest to historians and those studying the political, theological and philosophical thought of the period.