K. C. F. Krause (1781-1832) is wrongly regarded as a minor character in the historiography of German philosophy, unlike in the Spanish-speaking world, where Krausismo is held in high esteem and has had considerable impact. In this first comprehensive biography, Ureña outlines the life of Krause, a versatile thinker who was probably more eager to have a practical effect than any philosopher of his time. Krause's philosophy is discussed on the basis of previously unpublished manuscripts. His teaching at the universities of Jena (at the same time as Hegel), Berlin and Göttingen, his revealing studies of the political events of his time and the Freemasons are documented in detail. Apart from being a biography of an individual, this book is also an important contribution to the history of European philosophy, Freemasonry and the history of German academia and universities.