A monumental new biography of a pivotal yet poorly understood pioneer in modern philosophy.
When a painter once told Goethe that he wanted to paint the most famous man of the age Goethe
directed him to Georg Friederich Wilhelm Hegel. Hegel the most famous figure in modern
philosophy arguably its father believed that to philosophize is to learn to live freely. He
was slow and cautious in the development of his philosophy yet his intellectual growth was
like an Odyssey of the mind and contrary to popular belief his life was full of twists and
turns of suspense and even danger. In this landmark biography the philosopher Klaus Vieweg
paints a new picture of the life and work of the most important representative of German
idealism. His vivid portrait provides readers an intimate account of Hegel's times and the
milieu in which he developed his thought along with detailed clear-sighted analyses of
Hegel's four major works. What results is a new interpretation of Hegel through the lens of
reason and freedom. Vieweg draws on extensive archival research that has brought to light a
wealth of hitherto undiscovered documents and handwritten notes relating to Hegel's work
touching on Hegel's engagement with the leading thinkers and writers of his age: Kant Fichte
Schelling HoáI p8 slderlin and others. Combatting clicheáI p1 ss and misunderstandings about
Hegel Vieweg also offers a sustained defense of the philosopher's more progressive impulses.
Highly praised upon its release in Germany as having set the new biographical standard this
monumental work emphasizes Hegel's relevance for today depicting him as a vital figure in the
history of philosophy--
