Lectures on the Philosophy of History

[The Spirit’s] true nature is Freedom—Freedom in both senses of the word: first, liberation from external control—since the laws it follows are those it has openly accepted for itself—and second, emancipation from the internal slavery of desire and passion.

These remarks are not intended to provide a complete or systematic analysis of Hegel’s Philosophy of History. Instead, they simply point out its main idea and, if possible, help remove any prejudice against the work. Some critics dismiss it because they believe it turns facts into mystical paradoxes or tries to interpret history prior to experience original: à priori; reasoning or knowledge which proceeds from theoretical deduction rather than from observation or experience. In applying this theory, it is likely that some facts have been distorted, some given too much importance, and others completely ignored. Even in the most careful and narrow analysis of the past, these kinds of errors are inevitable; a broad view of history is naturally even more prone to mistakes. However, the real question is whether the principles used in this work to explain the path of civilization are correctly drawn from historical facts and whether they provide a reliable way to understand history’s most important features.

The translator would like to note, in conclusion, that the “Introduction” will likely be the most tedious and difficult part of this book. He suggests reading it quickly at first, and then returning to it later as a summary original: résumé of the principles that are more fully explained in the main part of the work.

Upper Grange, Stroud,
Nov. 25th, 1857.