Hegel

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This accessible and highly readable biography is the first comprehensive account of Hegel since the outdated nineteenth-century treatments. Althaus utilizes new historical material and scholarly sources to explore the life and times of this enigmatic and influential philosopher. He presents a nuanced portrait of Hegel, revealing a personality more complex than commonly perceived and an ambiguous relationship with his revolutionary era. The narrative follows Hegel's development from his early theological studies in Tübingen, where he wrote critically about established religious orthodoxies, through his philosophical apprenticeship with Schelling in Jena, as he sought an independent intellectual stance. It culminates in his influential period in Berlin, where he emerged as a proponent of the modern Prussian state. Althaus vividly recounts Hegel's life, including his intellectual and personal crises, drawing on the philosopher's extensive correspondence. The book highlights Hegel's central role in the cultural and political landscape of his time, enriched by the perspectives of contemporaries like Schelling, Schleiermacher, and Goethe. This panoramic introduction to Hegel's life, work, and context serves as a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in this towering figure of philosophy.