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