In October 1806, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was a 36-year-old lecturer at the University of Jena. Living in near-poverty as his inheritance dwindled, he raced to finish his first major work, the Phenomenology of Spirit. His financial pressures were extreme. He was supported by a meager 100-thaler stipend arranged by Goethe and the fees of the few students who attended his lectures, while his landlady was pregnant with his illegitimate son. With the Holy Roman Empire having collapsed just two months earlier, German states were in chaos and the university was threatened by the approaching Napoleonic Wars. Hegel had to finish the book to secure an academic post and escape his desperate situation. His entire future depended on the manuscript.
Hegel and the End of History
Hegel finished the main text of the Phenomenology of Spirit in Jena in October 1806, as Napoleon's army took the city. He wrote that he had seen the emperor, "this world-soul", ride through.
The Philosopher's Race
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Hegel mean by the 'End of History'?
For Hegel, the 'End of History' did not mean events would stop. It meant the main struggle of history—the fight for freedom and rational government—had reached its logical conclusion. He believed the modern state, with laws based on reason, provides the framework for all individuals to be recognized and free.
Why did Hegel call Napoleon the 'World-Soul on horseback'?
Hegel saw Napoleon not just as a general, but as the physical embodiment of 'World Spirit' or historical progress. He believed certain 'world-historical individuals' unknowingly carry out the will of history. Napoleon, by dismantling old feudal orders and spreading rational laws, was advancing history toward its ultimate goal.
What happened to Hegel's book after the battle?
Hegel completed the final pages of his manuscript on the eve of the Battle of Jena, but had to wait until after the fighting to send them. Although he had no duplicate copy and the pages had to travel through war-torn territory, the manuscript arrived safely and was published as The Phenomenology of Spirit in 1807. Though its initial reception was muted, it eventually became one of the most influential works of modern philosophy.
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