Abstract
The thesis “philosophy is the history of philosophy” by G. W. F. Hegel (1770-1831) is one of the core statements expressing the dialectical, idealist view of philosophy as a process of movement of the absolute spirit. For Hegel, philosophy is not only the contemplation of abstract truth, but also the self-awareness of the spirit in history, reflecting the dialectical development of reason. Each philosophical doctrine, therefore, is not an isolated viewpoint but an inevitable “link” in the self-movement of absolute thought. This article aims to deeply analyze the content, dialectical structure, and methodological significance of the above thesis, and, at the same time, to point out the limits of its idealism, thereby clarifying the inheritance and reform of philosophy carried out by Marx and Engels, and its further developments by V. I. Lenin. In addition, the article points out the influence of this thesis on modern philosophical thinking, especially in the study of history of thought and philosophy of history, and its implications for philosophical research in Vietnam today.
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