Hegelian

American  

[hey-gey-lee-uhn, hi-jee-] / heɪˈgeɪ li ən, hɪˈdʒi- /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Hegel or his philosophical system.

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noun

1. a person who accepts the philosophical principles of Hegel.

2. an authority or expert on the writings of Hegel.

Etymology

Origin of Hegelian

First recorded in 1830–40; Hegel + -ian

Example Sentences

The biggest flaw in the Hegelian viewpoint about supposedly great men is that his entire hypothesis about an unfolding historical process is flat wrong.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

For example, Mr. Mansfield dismisses the idea of a Judeo-Christian tradition as a Hegelian confection.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

A professor at Columbian College, which became George Washington University, he wrote several books on Hegelian idealistic philosophy during his residence.

From Washington Post • Oct. 18, 2022

But what happens when the other kind of History — academic, not Hegelian — starts to collapse?

From Seattle Times • Sep. 2, 2022

The Hegelian theory of the generation of knowledge out of the processes of pure thought is emphatically rejected.

From International Congress of Arts and Science, Volume I Philosophy and Metaphysics by Various