Page "Karl Marx" Paragraph 9

Marx became interested in, but critical of, the work of the German philosopher G. W. F Hegel ( 1770 – 1831 ), whose ideas were widely debated amongst European philosophical circles at the time.

Marx wrote about falling ill " from intense vexation at having to make an idol of a view I detested.

" He became involved with a group of radical thinkers known as the Young Hegelians, who gathered around Ludwig Feuerbach and Bruno Bauer.

Like Marx, the Young Hegelians were critical of Hegel's metaphysical assumptions, but still adopted his dialectical method in order to criticise established society, politics, and religion.

Marx befriended Bauer, and in July 1841 the two scandalised their class in Bonn by getting drunk, laughing in church, and galloping through the streets on donkeys.

During that period Marx concentrated on his criticism of Hegel and certain other Young Hegelians.