G.F.W. Hegel (1770-1831)

Major work

•          The Phenomenology of Spirit

•          Encyclopedia of the Philosophical Sciences

•          Several published lectures

Importance

•          Influential German philosopher

•          Most influential of German idealists

•          Taught that only the mind is real, everything else is the expression of the mind

•          All reality is an expression of the Absolute, who is God

•          All that exists is the expression of the divine mind

•          The state is man’s highest social achievement

•          Held to four levels of religion—(1) animism, (2) God in human form, (3) incarnation of Jesus, and (4) reformulation of Christian beliefs into the concepts of a speculative philosophy

•          Views God as being manifested in history

•          Truth is in process, reality is developing

•          Influenced Marx and Kierkegaard

•          Accused of holding to Pantheism

•          Is well-known for thesis/antithesis/synthesis model

•          Contracted smallpox at the age of 3