Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was a leading figure in German idealism in the early 19th century. He developed a dialectical method of reasoning to explain history, philosophy, art, politics and religion. He believed that progress occurs through the clash of opposing ideas that get resolved at a higher level of truth. For Hegel, the goal of humanity is to achieve full consciousness of spirit through philosophy and the arts. His ideas had a major influence on later philosophers like Marx who adopted his vision of struggle and dream of its end.