Why is it called the Hegelian dialectic??

Question

The Hegelian dialectic is the thesis plus the antithesis equals the synthesis, however, it is clearly in the Critique of Pure Reason (before Hegel published anything) by Kant. Should it not be called the Kantian dialectic?

Answer 1

Hegel applies the notion of the dialectic to the evolution of Being or spirit, and claims that the dialectical process does not just go on forever, but rather, is directed toward and overall goal, which he calls "absolute spirit". This application of the dialectical process to the evolution of Spirit is what makes the Hegelian dialectic "Hegelian". As you point out, the notion of dialectic has been applied by other people to other things, but Hegel had this particularly deep metaphysical use for it, which is why he is well-known for using it. And of course Marx borrowed the dialectic idea from Hegel (who was Marx's teacher) and applied it to the evolution of matter.