LeftHegelians

Left Hegelians, also known as the Young Hegelians, were a group of 1830s–1840s German philosophers who engaged with the work of G. W. F. Hegel to critique religion, politics, and social institutions from a liberal or radical perspective. Building on Hegel’s dialectic, they argued that the Absolute Spirit could be understood as a real human achievement and that society should be progressively reformed toward greater freedom and rationality. They emphasized critique of the Prussian state and the Christian church, viewing theology as a projection of human alienation rather than a sacred truth. Though united by this method, the group contained diverse tendencies, including atheistic materialism, religious reformism, and radical political liberalism.

Notable figures associated with the Left Hegelians include Ludwig Feuerbach, who argued that theology is a projection of human nature; Bruno Bauer, who attacked Christianity and the authorities; David Strauss, who offered a critical biography of Jesus; and Max Stirner, whose individualist critique pushed against all forms of dogma. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels began as members of this circle, using Hegelian dialectics to develop historical materialism and a critique of capitalism, while later diverging from the earlier liberal program.

In contrast with the Right Hegelians, who defended the established social order and religious orthodoxy, the Left Hegelians pushed for secularization, civil liberties, and the reform or overthrow of institutions to achieve human emancipation. Their work influenced later socialist and liberal thought, as well as the development of Marxism, critical theory, and atheistic philosophy, while attracting criticism for rationalist biases or perceived antipathy to religion.