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George Wilhelm Fredrich Hegel

Mikaela Hoelsken

Mr. M. Eman

Intro to Honors Philosophy

11 November 2008

George Wilhelm Fredrich Hegel

Born in Stuttgart on August 27, 1770, George Wilhelm Fredrich Hegel grew up near Tubingen (in what is now Germany).   He soon became thoroughly acquainted with the Greek and Roman classics while studying at the Stuttgart Gymnasium preparatory school and was familiar with German literature and science. Hegel was 18 during the French Revolution or as what he called “a glorious dawn” and he said, “All thinking beings shared in the jubilation of this epoch.” (Honderich 143)   he was a major supporter of it and the war helped him write one of his greatest works Phenomenology of the Mind. After he graduated he worked as a tutor and then became a headmaster of a secondary school for nine years.   After his reputation grew he became a professor of   a university.   He ended his teaching career as Chair of Philosophy at the University of Berlin.   In 1806 he finished one of his most important books The Phenomenology of Spirit and The Science of Logic another of his best works was published in 1816.   Hegel died in 1831.
Hegel is a difficult thinker because he rarely acknowledges those not familiar with his way of thinking.   His style is not exactly ‘user friendly.’   Most readers do not comprehend his works and find them unreadable.   In reality his works contain original insight and views on philosophical, social and political issues.
Hegel took history very seriously.   He viewed that the foundations of human condition could change from era to era (suggested by Schiller).   Hegel’s book Philosophy of History outlined the history of early civilizations and the path of European history from feudalism to Reformation to Enlightenment and the French Revolution.   Hegel shows his passion of history through this book.   He does not just state these facts; he takes the raw material of history and goes beyond it.   He states, “The philosophy of history means nothing but the...

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