The Northern Principle and its Afterlives. Political and Pastoral Government in Luther, Nietzsche, and Hegel

In Hegel’s Lectures on Philosophy of Right the ‘northern principle’ denotes historical and systematic account of the relation between political thought and Christian faith from St Paul to Luther. Hegel’s stance is explained on the backdrop of his criticism of early modern theories of natural right and absolutistic monarchy. In her recent examination Hegel’s interpretation of The French Revolution and Restauration R. Comay suggests a psychoanalytical reading of Hegel’s philosophy of spirit as work of memory and mourning. In line with Comay the article argues, that current debate on pastoral power and the state in Nietzsche and Foucault, are anticipated in Hegel. From a Lutheran theological perspective seen in the Danish historical context the article draws attention to the potentials of a Hegelian stance as this is addressed by a number of other contemporary scholars, J.Taubes, N. Luhamnn, B. Labuschagne, S. Žižek R. Pippin, P. Ricoeur.