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G eorg W ilhelm F riedrich Hegel. Biography. Born in Stuttgart on August 27, 1770, in southwestern Germany Raised as a Protestant Mother dies when he is 11 Studied Latin and the classics; familiar with German literature and science. Bio con’d - Academic life.
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Biography • Born in Stuttgart on August 27, 1770, in southwestern Germany • Raised as a Protestant • Mother dies when he is 11 • Studied Latin and the classics; familiar with German literature and science
Bio con’d - Academic life • Acquainted with poet Friedrich Hölderlin and philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling • Attended seminary - University of Tübingen - but decided against joining ministry • Enthusiastic supporter of French Revolution • Finished The Phenomenology of Mind during Napoleon’s invasion of the German kingdom • Taught at University of Jena with Schelling • Invited to teach at University of Berlin (1818) • Died in Berlin on November 14, 1831, during a cholera epidemic
Philosophy • Philosophy = Reality • Romantic idea of a “World-Spirit” (like a Christian God) • “Heroes” are unconscious instruments of the W-S (Caesar, Napoleon) • Philosophy of History -> birth of Reason -> history is a rational process • History = human movement from less freedom to more freedom
Moralityand Social Ethics • “Right and wrong” is a matter of individual conscience • Duty/moral obligation can only exist in a social setting - a “state” • Concept of “state” is based on the mutual recognition (“general will”) of individuals as being free • Rational individuals obey this “general will”
Influence / Legacy • Most prominent German philosopher & Romantic thinker of his time • Division in followers (Hegelians): • Right-wingers = conservative, Christian stance • Left-wingers = revolutionary, atheist stance…included Karl Marx among others Left & Right Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-Eg_fLP-5U&p=AE3C46E53EFBC225&playnext=1&index=35 * “World-Spirit” embodied in Soviet Revolution
Important works • The Phenomenology of Mind (p. 1807) • The Science of Logic (p. 1812, 1813, 1816) • The Philosophy of Right (p. 1821) • The Philosophy of History (p. 1837)
Works Cited "Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel - Philosopher - Biography." The European Graduate School - Graduate & Postgraduate Studies Progam - Saas Fee, Switzerland. Web. 02 Nov. 2010. <http://www.egs.edu/library/georg-wilhelmfriedrich- hegel/biography/>. "Hegel Biography." Marxists Internet Archive. Web. 02 Nov. 2010. <http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hegel/help/hegelbio.htm>. Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich, and J. Sibree. The Philosophy of History. New York: Dover Publications, 1956. Print.