Ebook: An Introduction to Hegel: Freedom, Truth and History

This classic introduction to one of the most influential modern thinkers, G.W.F. Hegel (1770-1831) has been made even more comprehensive through the addition of four new chapters.

• New edition of a classic introduction to Hegel.
• Enables students to engage with many aspects of Hegel's philosophy.
• Covers the whole range of Hegel's mature thought.
• Relates Hegel's ideas to other thinkers, such as Luther, Descartes and Kant.
• Offers a distinctive and challenging interpretation of Hegel's work.

The philosopher G.W.F. Hegel (1771-1831) is now recognized to be one of the most important modern thinkers. His influence is to be found in Marx's conception of historical dialectic, Kierkegaard's existentialism, Dewey's pragmatism and Gadamer's hermeneutics and Derrida's deconstruction. Until now, however, it has been difficult for the non-specialist to find a reasonably comprehensive introduction to this important, yet at times almost impenetrable philosopher. With this book Stephen Houlgate offers just such an introduction. His book is written in an accessible style and covers a range of topics: the philosophy of history, logic and phenomenology, political philosophy, aesthetics and the philosophy of religion. In the course of the book the author relates Hegel's ideas to those of many other thinkers, including Luther, Descartes, Kant and Thomas Kuhn.

Stephen Houlgate is a professor of philosophy at the University of Warwick. His books include The Opening of Hegel's Logic: From Being to Infinity (Purdue, 2006), and An Introduction to Hegel: Freedom, Truth and History (Blackwell, 2005).