In our introductory lecture, Dr. Hicks presents the French Revolution as a cautionary example of how radical political change can go wrong, leading to violence, instability, and collapse. Together, we consider Edmund Burke’s conservative critique, which argues that meaningful reform must be rooted in tradition and gradual evolution rather than abstract ideals. The lecture explores Burke’s view that liberty depends on established institutions and inherited wisdom, raising enduring questions about the proper pace and nature of political reform.

In lecture two, we study the rise of Germany as the leading philosophical nation in the early 19th century, focusing on Georg Hegel's political philosophy. We examine Hegel's rejection of individualism, equality, and democracy in favor of a state-centered philosophy where individuals exist to serve the state, which he views as the manifestation of God's will on Earth. Dr. Hicks traces how Hegel's ideas about the state as an ethical organism, his belief in Germany's destined role in world history, and his integration of church and state would profoundly influence German political thought and have lasting implications for the next two centuries.

In lecture three, we learn about Friedrich Engels’ visit to industrial England and its impact on the development of Marxist thought. We examine how the Industrial Revolution brought both economic growth and deep social problems, including poor working conditions and class conflict. These realities shaped Karl Marx’s materialist critique of capitalism, culminating in his arguments that history is driven by class struggle. Dr. Hicks links these ideas to their broader impact, showing how they influenced major 20th-century political movements and conflicts, including the Russian Revolution and World War II.