Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, like Hobbes believed that in the natural state humans are competitive and warlike, and will eventually result in a master-slave relationship. With that idea in mind, Hegel argued that “war has in it the deep meaning that by it the ethical health of the nation is preserved and their finite aims uprooted.” People must win wars in order to continue to be recognized as the master. This thinking was wildly influential on Mussolini, who believes that “War alone brings up to its highest tension all human energy and puts the stamp of nobility upon the peoples who have courage to meet it.” Mussolini concludes that statement arguing that War is the only trial that decides between life and death—this is opinion is similar the Hobbes’ idea that man is naturally either a master or a slave.
Napoleon, perhaps took Hegel’s ideas closest to heart; he definitely shared the view on war that Hegel and Mussolini felt. Napoleon waged continual war, fearing that he would lose prestige and honor if he stopped winning battles. Looking at Napoleon in this way, I can’t help but consider him an early fascist. Or was he simply