Was Hegel a Canadian? Aspects of identity in the North American reception of the philosopher

The paper is dedicated to the role played by G. W. F. Hegel in the identity constructions of contemporary Canadians. After summarizing the Canadian reception of the German philosopher, the text analyses in more detail the thought of Charles Taylor, in particular his approach to Canadian multiculturalism confronted with Quebec interculturalism. Then, the French reception of Hegel is outlined and compared to the English-speaking tradition. Paradoxically enough, in Canada, Hegel is sometimes used to reinforce the federal principle and sometimes claimed as an authority to build a new strong Quebec, with its own tradition and legislation. However, regardless of the polysemy of Hegelian texts, their specific interest in the great German philosopher honours Canadians. It proves that, on both the federal and the Quebec side, there is a genuine concern for public management that favours individual freedom, without forfeiting a certain collective interest. The Canadian reading sees in Hegel the guarantor of such a balance.

Keywords: G. W. F. Hegel; political philosophy; identity; Canada; Quebec; multiculturalism; interculturalism