Fathers of philosophy

There are few things more disruptive to a family than surprises about a child’s paternity. Interestingly, three of the biggest names in continental philosophy – Hegel, Heidegger, and Derrida – have found themselves at the centre of such a crisis. Each dealt with these unexpected and unwelcome revelations in a decidedly different way.

In the summer of 1811, G. W. F. Hegel’s fortunes were riding high. His first major work, , had just been published to great acclaim, and the preparation for his wedding to Maria von Tucher, the daughter of Nuremberg’s leading aristocrat, was proceeding well. But these proceedings were dramatically disrupted when a woman unknown to the von Tuchers, Johanna Burkhardt, turned up on Hegel’s doorstep demanding compensation. She wanted to know what he was going