Cieszkowski, August von (1814–94)

Cieszkowski is perhaps best known for being the first to revise Hegel’s philosophy of history into a basis for future social reform. His introduction of the idea of ‘praxis’ as a synthesis between abstract theory and undirected practice was fundamental in the development of the Young Hegelian school, which formed shortly after Hegel’s death and sought the radical transformation of all then-existing political, religious and economic orders.