sychological disorders, influenced many of Hegels ideas of psychiatry based on dialectics, which greatly influenced his lifetime work. Hungry for knowledge, Hegel learned not only German literature and science, but he also immersed himself in the Greek and Roman classics. These readings introduced Hegel to the Greek city-states, which he later used to formulate his opinion of the perfect government. When, at 18 years of age, Hegel entered school to become a clergyman upon the wishes of his father, his true devotion stood with the support of the French Revolutionaries. During this time of political struggle, Hegel was inspired to write his first influential novel, The Phenomenology of Mind. This book reflects like no other Hegels interpretation of freedom and his thoughts concerning what constitutes a perfect society. Although Hegel wrote many books throughout his lifetime, historians focus on two in particular The Phenomenology of Mind and the Philosophy of History. From these two books, nearly all of Hegels philosophical developments can be systematically traced, educating the reader about Hegels philosophies yet also creating uncertainty as to what these theories really mean. Viewed as one of the most influential philosophers in modern history, Hegel made many significant offerings to the world of philosophical theory. The major contribution of Hegel to philosophical theory is Absolute Spirit. This spirit encompasses all truth in its totality and wholeness. Many scholars have likened this theory with that of Platos Idea, but they fail to observe one essential difference in the two. The Idea portrays a static, timeless, and unchanging truth that exists in a higher world, while Hegels Spirit changes with the chronicles of history. In order to understand the change and development of the world, according to Hegel, one must seek to aspire to a higher realm of human experience. The main avenue one may approach this realm...
