Hegel's Thoughts on Reality

Hegel believed that all real things in the world are ultimately one, so he is a monist (considers everything one). Hegel also stated that the study of history is "the thought that Reason rules the world." Hegel had a reoccurring idea that Reason, and Reason only rules the world.

"Substance is essentially Subject," in other words, reality in it ultimate state can be best described by spiritual terms. Therefore, reality is essentially spiritual. "Being and thought are, in themselves, the same," even if we do not treat them as such. This helps prove Hegel's theory that all things are ultimately one, and even if we think things are complete opposites they are really the same in the end. Thought can comprehend reality because it is its "heart and soul," because Spirit "governs the world" as "its immanent principle."

Hegel explains his notion of "The Absolute Idea". He says that "The Absolute Idea" has personality within it. He also says that everything "is error and gloom, opinion, striving, caprice, and transitoriness: the Absolute Idea alone is Being, imperishable Life, self-knowing truth, and the whole of truth." This, he states, is "the only object and content of philosophy [as well as] art and religion." To Hegel, this "Absolute Idea" is God himself. Apart for "The Absolute Idea" is nothing, therefore "The Absolute Idea" in itself is all of reality.

One of Hegel's most famous sentences is "What is rational is actual and what is actual is rational." This does not prove that anything exists, but it does help Hegel say that God is real. Earlier Hegel says that "The Absolute Idea", which is God, is rational, therefore with this statement, Hegel proves that God, who is rational, is actual.