Imagine studying the political and social developments of the 20th century without ever considering Communism or evaluating the idea of Fascism. Envision a Russia without the effects of Joseph Stain or a Germany untouched by the doctrine of Adolph Hitler. The above statements seem incredible because these systems created so much of the political and social turmoil throughout this century. Just as politics seems incomplete without the prevalence of these ideas, it is also incomplete without the philosophy of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. G.W.F. Hegel stands as one of the most influential philosophers of the past three centuries. Unlike philosopher before him, his all-embracing metaphysical systems attempt to uncover the fundamental nature and meaning of the universe and human interaction. The philosophies Hegel developed are so complex that many people confuse what he actually believed and what has been attributed to him. Therefore, three main areas must be analyzed in order to best understand what Hegel believed and the origin of his beliefs. The first main area includes a biographical sketch, which serves as an analysis of his upbringing and how this later influenced his work. Next Hegels theories of Absolute Spirit and Dialectical Forces must be analyzed in order to understand their influence on the third and final area his contribution to political thought. The popular opinion of Hegel holds firm roots in his political influence, making it imperative that this side of his philosophy be analyzed in order to gain a complete understanding of what Hegel stood for throughout his life as a philosopher.Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was born in August of 1770 in Stuttgart, Germany, to a low-income civil servant and an educated homemaker. The oldest of three children, Hegel was raised in a strong Protestant home where he grew very attached to his family, especially his sister Christiane. This sister, although afflicted with p...
