Abstract

The essay aims to address the relevance of Hegel’s conception of the constitution (Verfassung) with reference to the topic of the ‘material constitution’. Although this concept is only introduced later, i.e. by 20th century jurisprudence, the Hegelian philosophy foreruns the theoretical issues involved in it. The essay specifically examines Hegel’s approach to some fundamental points: the relationship between right and law; the notion of constituent power; the constitutional relevance of the social question; finally, the relationship between constitution, right, and politics