Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel[1†]

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (August 27, 1770 - November 14, 1831) was a German philosopher and one of the most influential figures of German idealism and 19th-century philosophy. His influence extends across the entire range of contemporary philosophical topics, from metaphysical issues in epistemology and ontology, to political philosophy, the philosophy of history, philosophy of art, philosophy of religion, and the history of philosophy[1†].

Early Years and Education

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was born on August 27, 1770, in Stuttgart, Württemberg, in what was then the Holy Roman Empire[2†][1†]. He was the son of a revenue officer[2†]. Little is known about his mother, but all accounts describe her as highly intelligent and unusually educated for a woman of that time[2†][3†].

Hegel had the conventional schooling for his social class. He entered German primary school in 1773, Latin school in 1775, and the Stuttgart Gymnasium illustre in 1780[2†][3†]. He had already learned the elements of Latin from his mother by the time he entered the Stuttgart grammar school[2†]. As a schoolboy, he made a collection of extracts, alphabetically arranged, comprising annotations on classical authors, passages from newspapers, and treatises on morals and mathematics from the standard works of the period[2†].

In 1788, Hegel went to Tübingen with a view to taking orders, as his parents wished[2†]. There, he studied philosophy and theology[2†][4†]. After graduating, he supported himself by tutoring until 1801, when he began to lecture at the University of Jena[2†][4†].

Hegel’s early education and experiences played a significant role in shaping his philosophical ideas and interests. His mastery of classical philosophy, particularly Aristotle, and his rigorous academic training laid the foundation for his later work[2†][1†].

Career Development and Achievements

After passing his theological examinations at Tübingen in 1793, Hegel began many years of struggle to earn his living and establish himself as a philosopher[3†]. Instead of entering the ministry, he began working as a house tutor for a wealthy family in Bern, Switzerland[3†].

In 1801, Hegel received his PhD from the University of Jena and became a professor there[3†][5†]. This was the cultural center of that time, and he soon began to collaborate with Schelling in editing the Critical Journal of Philosophy[3†][5†]. In 1807, his first main work, Phenomenology of Spirit was published[3†][5†].

Hegel developed a dialectical scheme that emphasized the progress of history and of ideas from thesis to antithesis and thence to a synthesis[3†][2†][1†]. His work, following upon that of Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, and Friedrich Schelling, thus marks the pinnacle of classical German philosophy[3†][2†][1†].

As an absolute idealist inspired by Christian insights and grounded in his mastery of a fantastic fund of concrete knowledge, Hegel found a place for everything—logical, natural, human, and divine—in a dialectical scheme that repeatedly swung from thesis to antithesis and back again to a higher and richer synthesis[3†][2†][1†]. His influence has been as fertile in the reactions that he precipitated—in Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish existentialist; in the Marxists, who turned to social action; in the logical positivists; and in G.E. Moore and Bertrand Russell, both pioneering figures in British analytic philosophy —as in his positive impact[3†][2†][1†].

First Publication of His Main Works

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel’s philosophical journey is marked by a series of profound works that have left an indelible impact on the field of philosophy. Here are some of his main works, along with additional information about each of them:

• The Phenomenology of Spirit (1807): This work is considered one of Hegel’s most important and widely discussed pieces. In it, Hegel develops a philosophical theory of consciousness’s evolution from a subjective to an absolute perspective. The Phenomenology of Spirit is often seen as a stepping stone to Hegel’s later works, where he develops his 'absolute idealism’[1†][6†].
• The Science of Logic (1812-1816): This work is a comprehensive exploration of logic, metaphysics, and ontology, where Hegel presents his dialectical method of reasoning. It is in this work that Hegel fully develops his concept of the dialectic, involving the transition from thesis to antithesis to synthesis[1†][6†].
• Encyclopedia of the Philosophical Sciences (1817): This is a systematic work covering every aspect of philosophy, including logic (the ‘Science of Logic’), nature, and spirit. The Encyclopedia presents an overview of Hegel’s philosophical system and is considered one of his most important works[1†][7†][5†].
• Elements of the Philosophy of Right (1821): This work is a foundational text in the development of 19th-century ethical and political philosophy, particularly in terms of the development of a rights-based theory of the state. In it, Hegel discusses themes of civil society, morality, ethics, family life, economic life, law, and the state[1†][6†].

Each of these works represents a significant contribution to philosophy and reflects Hegel’s innovative thinking and his mastery of dialectics[1†]. His works have been influential in various fields, including philosophy, sociology, political science, history, and literary theory[1†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel’s philosophy is marked by its depth, complexity, and broad influence. His dialectical method, which emphasized the progress of history and ideas from thesis to antithesis and thence to a synthesis, has been a subject of extensive analysis and evaluation[2†].

Hegel’s metaphysics, in particular, has been a topic of considerable debate. While some view Hegel as proposing an “extravagant” God-centered ontology, others contest this interpretation[2†][8†]. His concept of “spirit” (Geist), often seen as a variant of the concept of God, has been linked to a Eurocentric account of history, identifying the increasing presence of “reason” and “freedom” in the practices and institutions of European society[2†][8†].

Despite the challenges in interpreting Hegel’s philosophy, his influence has been profound and far-reaching. His ideas have precipitated reactions in various philosophical movements, including existentialism, phenomenology, philosophical hermeneutics, and American pragmatism[2†]. Hegel’s philosophy has also been linked to movements critical of traditional metaphysics[2†][8†].

Hegel’s work has been influential in various fields, including philosophy, sociology, political science, history, and literary theory[2†]. His dialectical method, his exploration of logic, metaphysics, and ontology, and his discussions on civil society, morality, ethics, family life, economic life, law, and the state have all been subjects of extensive analysis and evaluation[2†][9†][10†].

In conclusion, Hegel’s philosophy, despite its complexity and the challenges it presents to interpretation, has had a lasting impact on the field of philosophy and beyond[2†][8†][9†][10†].

Personal Life

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel’s personal life was marked by both familial and academic pursuits. In 1811, at the age of 40, Hegel married Marie von Tucher[11†]. The couple had two sons: Karl, who became a historian, and Immanuel, who became a theologian[11†]. In addition to their biological children, Hegel and his wife also adopted a child named Ludwig from Jena[11†].

Hegel’s life was tragically cut short during an outbreak of cholera. He passed away on November 14, 1831[11†]. His final resting place is the Dorotheenstadt cemetery[11†].

Conclusion and Legacy

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel’s legacy is vast, influencing a range of disciplines from philosophy to political theory, history, and theology. His ideas contributed to the development of Marxist theory, existentialism, and the Frankfurt School. Hegel’s method of dialectical thinking inspired Karl Marx’s dialectical materialism, fundamentally shaping socialist thought.

Hegel introduced a system for understanding the history of philosophy and the world itself, often described as a “progression in which each successive movement emerges as a solution to the contradictions inherent in the preceding movement”[5†]. This dialectical scheme emphasized the progress of history and of ideas from thesis to antithesis and thence to a synthesis[2†][1†].

Hegel’s idealism formed the basis of the Absolute Idealism of many philosophers (including F.H. Bradley and Bernard Bosanquet), who made Absolute Idealism a dominant philosophy of the 19th century[12†]. His work, following upon that of Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, and Friedrich Schelling, thus marks the pinnacle of classical German philosophy[2†][1†].

His influence has been as fertile in the reactions that he precipitated—in Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish existentialist; in the Marxists, who turned to social action; in the logical positivists; and in G.E. Moore and Bertrand Russell, both pioneering figures in British analytic philosophy —as in his positive impact[2†][1†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: G. W. F. Hegel[2†]
• Born: August 27, 1770, Stuttgart, Württemberg, Holy Roman Empire[2†][1†]
• Died: November 14, 1831, Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia[2†][1†]
• Nationality: German[2†][1†]
• Occupation: Philosopher[2†][1†]
• Notable Works: “The Phenomenology of Spirit”, “The Science of Logic”, “Encyclopedia of the Philosophical Sciences”, "Elements of the Philosophy of Right"[2†][1†]
• Notable Achievements: Hegel developed a dialectical scheme that emphasized the progress of history and ideas from thesis to antithesis and thence to a synthesis[2†][1†]. His work marks the pinnacle of classical German philosophy[2†][1†].

References and Citations:

1. Wikipedia (English) - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel [website] - link
2. Britannica - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel: German philosopher [website] - link
3. eNotes - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Biography [website] - link
4. Britannica Kids - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel [website] - link
5. New World Encyclopedia - None [website] - link
6. Britannica - Philosophy of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel [website] - link
7. Wikipedia (English) - Category [website] - link
8. Oxford Bibliographies - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel: Metaphysics - Philosophy [website] - link
9. Stanford University SearchWorks - G.W.F. Hegel : critical assessments in SearchWorks catalog [website] - link
10. Google Books - Hegel: Philosophy of Mind: Translated with Introduction and Commentary - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Michael Inwood [website] - link
11. SunSigns - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Biography, Life, Interesting Facts [website] - link
12. Britannica - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel - German Philosopher, Idealism, Dialectic [website] - link