In what follows Hegel's philosophy of history as the zenith in historical thinking will be considered from three perspectives.

• I I will begin by discussing the two major reactions among Hegel's nineteenth century successors to the problem of historical finality.

• II Then I will go back to Hegel himself in order the analyze the speculative claims of his system with regard to historical time.

• III And finally, I will clarify the role played by those formal structures in historical reflexion which continue to fuel the controversy over what Hegel meant by the end of history.