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The Philosophy of Hegel
The philosophy of Hegel has long been influential on modern economics, politics and philosophy in both positive and negative ways.
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
552 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1953
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96 people want to read
About the author
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
2,186 books2,537 followersGeorg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831) was a German philosopher and one of the founding figures of German Idealism. Influenced by Kant's transcendental idealism and Rousseau's politics, Hegel formulated an elaborate system of historical development of ethics, government, and religion through the dialectical unfolding of the Absolute. Hegel was one of the most well-known historicist philosopher, and his thought presaged continental philosophy, including postmodernism. His system was inverted into a materialist ideology by Karl Marx, originally a member of the Young Hegelian faction.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 26, 2023
Full clarity: I bailed on the excerpt from “Phenomenology of Spirit” with about 40 pages left. For my purposes as a casual reader, I feel pretty satisfied with my layman’s understanding of Hegel’s conception of the Spirit and its significance regarding History, Right and Law, etc. from the other selections included here. I’d like to return to it, if not that full text, sometime in the future, but it is unquestionably the most difficult and abstract of his work here which I feel is otherwise much more digestible with the more tangible bases of history, aesthetics, etc.
Philosophy of History: Excellent, my favorite of the included texts. Hegel elaborates on the various forms of written history, historical development as determined by reason, the historical progression of the West from Greece through the Middle Ages, and more. I’d love to read the full text as some editorial decisions, such as the exclusion of Hegel’s writings on Islam, are sorely missed.
Philosophy of Right and Law: This is the most interesting selection considering the context of Hegel’s thought in relation to both Communism and Fascism. Essentially a list of principles regarding right and law, interpreting them is especially interesting considering we still bear witness, and contribute, to their dialectic development to such extremes.
The Rest: I enjoyed the excerpt from The Science of Logic quite a bit and made it through the Lectures on Aesthetics, which I highly anticipated but wasn’t very fond of. The latter feeling also applied to Phenomenology, and ultimately although I hate technically leaving books unfinished my interest is satiated. I don’t think ~510/550 is too bad.
Philosophy of History: Excellent, my favorite of the included texts. Hegel elaborates on the various forms of written history, historical development as determined by reason, the historical progression of the West from Greece through the Middle Ages, and more. I’d love to read the full text as some editorial decisions, such as the exclusion of Hegel’s writings on Islam, are sorely missed.
Philosophy of Right and Law: This is the most interesting selection considering the context of Hegel’s thought in relation to both Communism and Fascism. Essentially a list of principles regarding right and law, interpreting them is especially interesting considering we still bear witness, and contribute, to their dialectic development to such extremes.
The Rest: I enjoyed the excerpt from The Science of Logic quite a bit and made it through the Lectures on Aesthetics, which I highly anticipated but wasn’t very fond of. The latter feeling also applied to Phenomenology, and ultimately although I hate technically leaving books unfinished my interest is satiated. I don’t think ~510/550 is too bad.
December 28, 2025
Well organized edition of Hegel’s work. I appreciated the attention to complications resulting from Hegel’s work and the loss of some of the ideas based on those challenges. Overall, great intro by the editor, followed by Hegel texts that required heavy skimming on my part lest I drown in confusion and implode within the vocabulary alone.
February 6, 2019
Philosophy is the bran cereal of reading. It can be quite a slog. Pages upon pages can pass without anything registering.
This one starts out promising but gets complex at the halfway point and the rest of the book is a struggle. The first section is the most straightforward. It covers Hegel's "Philosophy of History". Hegel walks the reader through major civilizations and eras in history. He defines the history of man coming to the fore when historical events are recorded in writing. He discusses the contrast between the beauty and aesthetics of Athens versus the pragmatism and austerity of the Spartans. He moves forward to the Romans and cites Julius Caesar as the key historical figure who transforms Rome from the more representative government system to a more efficient dictatorship. With the rise of Christianity, we progress to the fall of Rome and the ascendance of the papacy. The corruption of the Church leads to the feudal system. Wealthy land owners purchase ecclesiastical titles from the Church and set up fiefdoms. With the Reformation, the power of the Church wanes and monarchs gain power.
The next section is titled the History of Philosophy. Hegel explains that philosophy is a reflection of the times and religion of the period. Hegel is a devout Lutheran. He acknowledges the contributions of Sophocles, Plato and Aristotle. He finds their philosophy to be well thought out but hampered by the Greek's belief in polytheism. He explains that like science, philosophy improves as our knowledge base grows. In this he sees philosophers as builders who benefit from the foundational work of their predecessors.
He moves forward to the Science of Logic and The Philosophy of Right and Law. He discusses religion, rights of man, property and other such topics. One of his main premises is that throughout history, civilization progresses towards more freedom for mankind. In Ancient Greece, the state determines a person's profession. Later during the feudal period, the majority of the people have no property or independent wealth. People are used at the whim of the few wealthy land owners. As the states and monarchs grew stronger, freedom is greatly increased. Land is distributed to a much larger population, and many citizens choose their profession. In return, the citizens pay taxes to the central government who furnish public works and provide national defense.
The chapter on Aesthetics is interesting. Hegel connects the polytheism of the Greeks with the classical forms of art. Statues of gods as idealized, anthropomorphic beings are representative of classical art. As Christianity gains dominance, art becomes more romantic. The concept that God is in everyone leads to a movement toward painting, music and poetry. There more spiritual and conceptual art forms gain popularity as the god within is presented by the artists.
The last major section is the most difficult. This is the Phenomelogy of the Spirit. Based on his belief in Christianity and a strong central form of government, Hegel proscribes how governments, laws and societies should be run. Rather than leaving religion out of the discussion and providing more straight forward ideas on society and government, Hegel intermingles religion and philosophy as he makes his recommendations. This creates much difficulty as the concepts are complex without these additional challenges.
The book ends with a few letters from Hegel. He comments on modern current affairs in Germany, Prussia and England. Here he is concise. He is a proponent of a strong central government and believes that the Germany of his period lacks cohesion.
Hegel is well read and understands his history, philosophy and religion. The issues that make Hegel's viewpoints challenging is his defense of Christianity. While at one point showing how religion and philosophy naturally change over time, he refuses to allow that Christianity may also evolve over time and that again religion and philosophy will adapt. His "man is god, god is man" belief places man in an infallible status and one in which we have reached the pinnacle of our existence. That concept is far too optimistic and does not allow for the many defects that humans have.
At times brilliant, at other times confusing and impenetrable. Hegel analyzes our history brilliantly, but is overly confident on the correct pathway forward.
This one starts out promising but gets complex at the halfway point and the rest of the book is a struggle. The first section is the most straightforward. It covers Hegel's "Philosophy of History". Hegel walks the reader through major civilizations and eras in history. He defines the history of man coming to the fore when historical events are recorded in writing. He discusses the contrast between the beauty and aesthetics of Athens versus the pragmatism and austerity of the Spartans. He moves forward to the Romans and cites Julius Caesar as the key historical figure who transforms Rome from the more representative government system to a more efficient dictatorship. With the rise of Christianity, we progress to the fall of Rome and the ascendance of the papacy. The corruption of the Church leads to the feudal system. Wealthy land owners purchase ecclesiastical titles from the Church and set up fiefdoms. With the Reformation, the power of the Church wanes and monarchs gain power.
The next section is titled the History of Philosophy. Hegel explains that philosophy is a reflection of the times and religion of the period. Hegel is a devout Lutheran. He acknowledges the contributions of Sophocles, Plato and Aristotle. He finds their philosophy to be well thought out but hampered by the Greek's belief in polytheism. He explains that like science, philosophy improves as our knowledge base grows. In this he sees philosophers as builders who benefit from the foundational work of their predecessors.
He moves forward to the Science of Logic and The Philosophy of Right and Law. He discusses religion, rights of man, property and other such topics. One of his main premises is that throughout history, civilization progresses towards more freedom for mankind. In Ancient Greece, the state determines a person's profession. Later during the feudal period, the majority of the people have no property or independent wealth. People are used at the whim of the few wealthy land owners. As the states and monarchs grew stronger, freedom is greatly increased. Land is distributed to a much larger population, and many citizens choose their profession. In return, the citizens pay taxes to the central government who furnish public works and provide national defense.
The chapter on Aesthetics is interesting. Hegel connects the polytheism of the Greeks with the classical forms of art. Statues of gods as idealized, anthropomorphic beings are representative of classical art. As Christianity gains dominance, art becomes more romantic. The concept that God is in everyone leads to a movement toward painting, music and poetry. There more spiritual and conceptual art forms gain popularity as the god within is presented by the artists.
The last major section is the most difficult. This is the Phenomelogy of the Spirit. Based on his belief in Christianity and a strong central form of government, Hegel proscribes how governments, laws and societies should be run. Rather than leaving religion out of the discussion and providing more straight forward ideas on society and government, Hegel intermingles religion and philosophy as he makes his recommendations. This creates much difficulty as the concepts are complex without these additional challenges.
The book ends with a few letters from Hegel. He comments on modern current affairs in Germany, Prussia and England. Here he is concise. He is a proponent of a strong central government and believes that the Germany of his period lacks cohesion.
Hegel is well read and understands his history, philosophy and religion. The issues that make Hegel's viewpoints challenging is his defense of Christianity. While at one point showing how religion and philosophy naturally change over time, he refuses to allow that Christianity may also evolve over time and that again religion and philosophy will adapt. His "man is god, god is man" belief places man in an infallible status and one in which we have reached the pinnacle of our existence. That concept is far too optimistic and does not allow for the many defects that humans have.
At times brilliant, at other times confusing and impenetrable. Hegel analyzes our history brilliantly, but is overly confident on the correct pathway forward.
July 9, 2015
I picked this Modern Library collection up cheaply at a used bookstore in Manhattan, but didn't get around to reading it until preparing for Ardis Collin's course on Hegel taught during the second semester of 1981/2 at Loyola University Chicago. Since some of the texts are mere extracts, I would not recommend this edition for any serious student of Hegel.
June 30, 2018
This was one of the most difficult books I have ever read. It is tedious, but should be read especially to correct the misconceptions of Hegel’s philosophy which were perverted by Marx and Engels and by German nationalists.
1. The Philosophy of History: According to Hegel, the history of the world is nothing but the development of the idea of freedom. Freedom is an essential component in realizing that the World is run by Reason. Some civilizations never attained the concept of freedom and its people remained slaves. The requisites in the growth towards this Awareness have occurred only in the West and began in ancient Greece. This development has been a rational process leading to the ultimate result: the self-cognizant Being. His interesting summary of civilizations (“I have traversed the entire field”) supports his claim that what has happened, including the powerful few that come on the scene to direct people, is the will of God. His observation that the Germans are ordained by fate to be the catalyst toward this ultimate illumination leads inexorably to strident nationalism.
2. The History of Philosophy: Philosophy builds upon itself and is cumulative insofar as each idea is the foundation upon which a different aspect is erected.
3. Logic: This is a difficult read. Just when you believe you are getting a handle on it, it eludes your grasp. He criticizes the historic understanding of the process by emphasizing that preconceptions were invalid beginnings. Then he wanders into thesis and antithesis to arrive at being which I gather to be a constant becoming. How this assists anyone at arriving at truth is unexplained unless that is Hegel’s point – his “logic” arrives at Pure Being.
4. The Philosophy of Right and Law: Hegel constructs the existing – not theoretical (i.e. social compact) – political entity by discussing the constituent parts to eventually arrive at the State. A very interesting alternative to most political philosophers and scientists.
5. Lectures on Aesthetics: Man’s knowledge of the Absolute can be apprehended under the form of beauty, the mechanism of which is Art. Though below Religion and Philosophy as a mechanism through which we apprehend God because it deals with the sensual in nature, Art confines itself with the notion of Beauty and Beauty is an attribute of the Absolute. Hegel surveys the development of Art through three stages: the primitive, the classical, and the romantic. The romantic art’s pinnacle is poetry whereby aesthetic conscience can nearly attain the self-manifestation of God.
6. The Phenomenology of the Spirit: This is an earlier work of Hegel and shows a lack of maturity – not in concept – in understanding how his concepts should be stated. It is confusing to say the least. For Hegel, philosophy is the study of the Absolute. The Absolute is infinite self-thinking life. Self-thinking is a process by which It becomes self-aware. Man’s knowledge of the Absolute is the Absolute’s knowledge of itself. From the finite comes the infinite. This idea of thesis and antithesis (the concept of two opposites can be resolved into the medium) is a hallmark of Hegel’s philosophy. No other philosopher has such fervor for triads! Three stages of Art. Three types of Religion! This is puzzling: God becomes aware of Himself only through the evolution of human thought? Then how did the universe come into being? I can’t help but wonder if Hegel’s thoughts refuse cogency in words.
1. The Philosophy of History: According to Hegel, the history of the world is nothing but the development of the idea of freedom. Freedom is an essential component in realizing that the World is run by Reason. Some civilizations never attained the concept of freedom and its people remained slaves. The requisites in the growth towards this Awareness have occurred only in the West and began in ancient Greece. This development has been a rational process leading to the ultimate result: the self-cognizant Being. His interesting summary of civilizations (“I have traversed the entire field”) supports his claim that what has happened, including the powerful few that come on the scene to direct people, is the will of God. His observation that the Germans are ordained by fate to be the catalyst toward this ultimate illumination leads inexorably to strident nationalism.
2. The History of Philosophy: Philosophy builds upon itself and is cumulative insofar as each idea is the foundation upon which a different aspect is erected.
3. Logic: This is a difficult read. Just when you believe you are getting a handle on it, it eludes your grasp. He criticizes the historic understanding of the process by emphasizing that preconceptions were invalid beginnings. Then he wanders into thesis and antithesis to arrive at being which I gather to be a constant becoming. How this assists anyone at arriving at truth is unexplained unless that is Hegel’s point – his “logic” arrives at Pure Being.
4. The Philosophy of Right and Law: Hegel constructs the existing – not theoretical (i.e. social compact) – political entity by discussing the constituent parts to eventually arrive at the State. A very interesting alternative to most political philosophers and scientists.
5. Lectures on Aesthetics: Man’s knowledge of the Absolute can be apprehended under the form of beauty, the mechanism of which is Art. Though below Religion and Philosophy as a mechanism through which we apprehend God because it deals with the sensual in nature, Art confines itself with the notion of Beauty and Beauty is an attribute of the Absolute. Hegel surveys the development of Art through three stages: the primitive, the classical, and the romantic. The romantic art’s pinnacle is poetry whereby aesthetic conscience can nearly attain the self-manifestation of God.
6. The Phenomenology of the Spirit: This is an earlier work of Hegel and shows a lack of maturity – not in concept – in understanding how his concepts should be stated. It is confusing to say the least. For Hegel, philosophy is the study of the Absolute. The Absolute is infinite self-thinking life. Self-thinking is a process by which It becomes self-aware. Man’s knowledge of the Absolute is the Absolute’s knowledge of itself. From the finite comes the infinite. This idea of thesis and antithesis (the concept of two opposites can be resolved into the medium) is a hallmark of Hegel’s philosophy. No other philosopher has such fervor for triads! Three stages of Art. Three types of Religion! This is puzzling: God becomes aware of Himself only through the evolution of human thought? Then how did the universe come into being? I can’t help but wonder if Hegel’s thoughts refuse cogency in words.
January 25, 2026
I only read portions. I know Hegel is highly regarded in some quarters. I won't claim that no person could extract real meaning here, only that I personally did not find my efforts rewarded.
I am of course reviewing Hegel's writing here. I think Friedrich's translation and compilation was fine
I am of course reviewing Hegel's writing here. I think Friedrich's translation and compilation was fine
September 2, 2025
one must negate the negated negations
April 21, 2008
This man was a gigantic genius. Period.
His philosophical constructs cover every conceiveable subject from religion to law to history to politics. There are "left" and "right" Hegelians, including Marx, Lenin, Mussolini. Forced onto the stage of Kierkegaard(who mocked his intricate mental structures), and even the thought of the late Pope John Paul II and the current pope. Love him or hate him, he was a huge mind who created his own logic.
His philosophical constructs cover every conceiveable subject from religion to law to history to politics. There are "left" and "right" Hegelians, including Marx, Lenin, Mussolini. Forced onto the stage of Kierkegaard(who mocked his intricate mental structures), and even the thought of the late Pope John Paul II and the current pope. Love him or hate him, he was a huge mind who created his own logic.
October 17, 2012
A good general introduction to Hegel with selections from 'The Philosophy of History,' 'The History of Philosophy,' 'The Science of Logic,' 'Philosophy of Right,' 'Lectures on Aesthetics,' and 'The Phenomenology of Spirit' ... older translations but I actually prefer this rendering of the 'Phenomenology' as somewhat clearer than the more recent and popular one of Miller ... Friedrich also edited Modern's 'The Philosophy of Kant'...
Want to read
November 2, 201111/01/2011 - Just started reading this. Reading Hegel, Schopenhauer, and Kierkegaard 'Either/Or' for the 'Creature Feature' screenplays. Already read 'Fear and Trembling'. Wondering if I should read Kant.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews