Hegel, G.W.F.

G.W.F. Hegel was a German philosopher from the late 18th and early 19th centuries known for his complex ideas about reality, knowledge, and history. He believed that reality and thought develop through a dialectical process—thesis, antithesis, and synthesis—where conflicting ideas lead to higher understanding. Hegel saw history as a rational process progressing toward freedom and self-awareness. His work influences philosophy, theology, and political theory, emphasizing the interconnectedness of ideas and reality in shaping human development and societal progress.