OnScientificKnowledge2。TheelementoftruthistheConceptanditstrueformthescientificsystem3。Presentpositionofthespirit4。Theprincipleisnotthecompletion;againstformalism5。Theabsoluteissubject—
6。—andwhatthisis7。Theelementofknowledge8。TheascentintothisisthePhenomenologyoftheSpirit9。Thetransformationofthenotionandthefamiliarintothought……
10。—andthisintotheConcept/Notion11。InwhatwaythePhenomenologyoftheSpiritisnegativeorcontainswhatisfalse12。Historicalandmathematicaltruth13。Thenatureofphilosophicaltruthanditsmethod14。Againstschematizingformalism15。Thedemandsofthestudyofphilosophy16。Argumentativethinkinginitsnegativeattitude……
17……initspositiveattitude;itssubject18。Naturalphilosophizingashealthycommonsenseandasgenius19。Conclusion:theauthor\'srelationtothepublic(I)Introduction:IntentionandMethodoftheArgumentA。ConsciousnessI。Sense-Certainty,This,andMeaning(1)TheObjectofSenseCertainty(2)TheSubjectofSenseCertainty(3)TheConcreteExperienceofSenseCertaintyII。Perception,Thing,andDeceptivenessTranslator\'scomments:Inthisasintheprecedingsectionapprehensioniseffectedunderconditionsofsense。Butwhereasintheprecedingtypeofconsciousnesstheuniversalitywhichknowledgeimpliesandrequiresnosoonerappearedthanitmeltedaway,hereinPerceptionwestartfromacertainstabilityinthemannerofapprehension,andacertainconstancyinthecontentapprehended。Theuniversalityinthiscasesatisfiesmoreompletelythedemandsofknowledge。Theproblemforfurtheranalysisistofindtheformwhichtheuniversalhereassumesandtodeterminethewayinwhichtheunityoftheobject(the“thing“)holdstogetheritsessentialdifferences。Theresultshowsthattheunityofthethingquaunityisonlyadmissibleasanunqualifiedornon-sensuousunity。Itisauniversal,butassuch,notconditionedbysense;itisapureor“unconditioned“
universal-athoughtproper。Beingundeterminedbysense,ittranscendssense-apprehension,andsotranscendsperceptionproper,andcompelsthemindtoadoptanothercognitiveattitudeinordertoapprehendit。ThisnewattitudeisUnderstanding。
Thefollowingsectionisthusindirectlyananalysisandacriticismofthedoctrinewhichreducesorconfinesknowledgetoperception。Itshowsthattheposition“esseestpercipi“
mustgivewaytotheprinciple“esseestintelligi“。
(1)TheNotionofa“Thing“
(2)TheContradictorinessofthePerceptionof“Things“
(3)TheTransitiontothesphereofUnderstandingIII。ForceandUnderstandingTranslator\'scomments:Theterm“force“holdsprimarilywithreferencetotherealmofNature,whetherphysicalorvital:butitisalsoused,moreorlessanalogically,inreferencetootherspheres,e。g。morality。Itistheobjectivecounterpartoftheactivityof“understanding“;itisobjectivelythesamekindofrelationofunitytodifferenceswhichissubjectivelyrealizedwhenthemindunderstands。Forceisaself-conditionedprincipleofunity;thedifferencesarethe“expressionsofforce“,theunityevolvesthedifferencesoutofitself。Understandingsimilarlyisaself-conditionedprocess;itconsistsinreducingdifferencestosomeultimateunity,whichiscapableofderivingor“explaining“thosedifferencesfromitself。The“unconditioneduniversal“towhichweareledbytheanalysisofperceptiontakesshape,therefore,as“force“。Thequestionis,Howaretheelementsofthisunconditioneduniversalrelated,andhowdotheyholdtogether?Theanswerisfoundinthehighestachievementoftheoperationofunderstanding-theestablishmentofa“kingdomoflaws“,whichinitsentiretyisthemeaningoftheworldsofarasunderstandinggoes。Butlawspersearelookedonasaninnerrealm,whichmerely“appears“inthedetailedparticularswhichthoselawscontrol,andinwhichthoselawsaremademanifest。
Thedifferences,infact,are“phenomena“,thelawspersearebehindthescenes:—theworldasawholethusbecomesdistinguishedintoarealmofphenomenaandarealmofnoumena。Thesetworealmssetanewproblemtothemind,andmustagainbebroughttogetherinacompleterwaythanunderstandingcando。Thisnewstateofconsciousnessis“self-consciousness“。
InthissectionwehaveatonceananalysisofempiricismandaCriticismoftheKantiansolutionoftheproblemofempiricism。Itisshownthatifphenomenaareappearancesofnoumena,thenthenoumenadoappear,andare,infact,nothingexceptsofarastheyappear:otherwisethenoumena,sofarbeing“hidden“,areworsethanappearances,theyareillusion。Thephenomenaarenotmerelyappearances“tothemind“,butappearancesofsomethingthatdoesmakeitselfmanifest。Ifphenomenaarethusnotexternaltoandstilllessindependentofnoumena,noumenaarejustastrulyimmanentinphenomena。
Treatedinanyotherway,noumenacanatbestbeonlyanotherkindofphenomena;andthisraisesanewpreciselytheproblemwhichtheoppositionofphenomenaornoumenawasintendedtosolve。Phenomenaarerelatedtonoumenaasthetreestothewood,notasacompoundtoitsatoms。Thesolutionofthedifficultyisthusonlytobefoundinthetypeofconsciousnesswhichcontainsboth—andthis,Hegelsays,isself-consciousness。
(1)ForceandtheplayofForces(2)TheInnerRealm(a)TheSupersensibleWorld(b)LawasDistinctionandSameness(c)TheLawofPureDistinction:theInvertedWorld(3)InfinitudeB。Self-ConsciousnessIV。TheTrueNatureofSelf-CertaintyTranslator\'scomments:Theanalysisofexperienceuptothispointhasbeenoccupiedwiththerelationofconsciousnesstoanobjectadmittedlydifferentinnaturefromthemindawareofit。Thisexternalopposition,however,breaksdownunderanalysis,andweareleftwiththeresultthatconsciousnessdoesandmustfinditselfinunitywithitsobject,aunitywhichimpliesidentityofnaturebetweenconsciousnessanditsobject:consciousnessbecomes“certainofitselfinitsobject“。Thisisnotmerelyaresult,butthetruestexpressionoftheinitialrelationwithwhichexperiencestarts。Itis,therefore,thegroundofthepossibilityofanyrelationbetweenthetermsinquestion:“consciousnessofself“isthebasisoftheconsciousnessofanythingwhatsoever。ThisisHegel\'sre-interpretationoftheKantiananalysisofexperience。
Butthisresultis,again,reallythestarting-pointforafurtheranalysisofexperience,butofexperienceatahigherlevelofrealization。Consciousnessofselfistobeginwithageneralattitude,adefinitetypeofexperience,whichrequireselucidation。Ithasitsownconditionsandformsofmanifestation。Self-consciousness,beingsupreme,mustrealizeitselfinrelationtonature,tootherselvessimilartotheself,andtotheUltimateBeingoftheworld。Thesearedifferentkindsofcontentwithwhichconsciousnessistofinditsoneness,andtheyfurnishdifferentformsinwhichthesameprincipleismanifested。Theargumentseekstoshowthattheseformsarealsodifferentdegreesofrealizationofself-consciousness。Theoutcomeoftheargumentisthatself-consciousnessistrulyrealizedonlywhenitisuniversalself-consciousness,whenconsciousnessiscertainofitselfthroughoutallreality,andexplicitlyfindsthereonlyitself。Thisresulttakestheform,asweshallsee,ofwhatiscalledReason。
Theimmediatelysucceedingsectiontakesupthefirststageofthedevelopmentofself-consciousness—theconsciousnessofselfinrelationtonature。ThistakestheshapeofDesire,Instinct,Impulse,etc。,andinvolvesthecategoryofLife。Thisrelationship,whileundoubtedlyimplyingthesenseofselfintheobjectandconsciousnessofunitywithit,istheleastsatisfyingandtheleastcompleteofallthemodesofself-consciousness。Itpointstheway,therefore,tothefullersenseofselfobtainedwhentheselfisawareofitselfinrelationtoanotherself。
(1)ConsciousnessInItself(2)Life(3)TheEgoandDesireA。IndependenceandDependenceofSelf-ConsciousnessLordshipandBondageTranslator\'scomments:Theselvesconsciousofselfinanotherselfare,ofcourse,distinctandseparatefromeachother。Thedifferenceis,inthefirstinstance,aquestionofdegreeofself-assertionandself-maintenance:oneisstronger,higher,moreindependentthananother,andcapableofassertingthisattheexpenseoftheother。Still,eventhisdistinctionofprimaryandsecondaryrestsultimatelyontheiridentityofconstitution;andthecourseoftheanalysisheregraduallybringsoutthisessentialidentityasthetruefact。
Theequalityoftheselvesisthetruth,orcompleterrealization,ofselfinanotherself;theaffinityishigherandmoreultimatethanthedisparity。Still,thestruggleandconflictofselvesmustbegonethroughinordertobringoutthisresult。Hencethepresentsection。
ThebackgroundofHegel\'sthoughtistheremarkablehumanphenomenonofthesubordinationofoneselftoanotherwhichwehaveinallformsofservitude—whetherslavery,serfdom,orvoluntaryservice。Servitudeisnot,onlyaphaseofhumanhistory,itisinprincipleaconditionofthedevelopmentandmaintenanceoftheconsciousnessofselfasafactofexperience。
(1)DuplicatedSelf-Consciousness(2)TheConflictofSelf-ConsciousnessinSelf-opposition(3)LordandBondsmanB。FreedomofSelf-Consciousness:Stoicism,Skepticism,andtheUnhappyConsciousnessTranslator\'scomments:Theprevioussectionhasestablishedtheselfasultimatelyafreeself。Buteventhisisabstractatfirst,andhencetheattempttomaintainitmustpassthroughdifferentstages。TheseattemptshavetakenhistoricalexpressioninEuropeancivilization,butthesearemerelyinstancesofanexperiencethatisstrictlyfoundinallmankind。Hegel,however,selectstheformsassumedinEuropeanhistory,andhastheseinmindthroughoutthesucceedinganalysis。ThetermsStoicismandScepticismreferprimarilytotheformswhichtheseassumedinGreeceandRome。Thelaststageofindependentandfreeself-hoodhenamesfautedemieux,the“unhappyconsciousness“。
ThebackgroundofhistoricalmaterialforthistypeofmindisfoundinthereligiouslifeoftheMiddleAgesandthementalattitudeassumedunderthedominionoftheRomanCatholicChurchandtheFeudalHierarchy。ThesocialandpoliticaldissolutionoftheRomanEmpirehasitscounterpartinthementalchaosanddissolutionofScepticism;thecravingoffreemindforabsolutestabilityandconstancyamidchangeanduncertaintyfoundexpressioninanorganizedattemptonthepartoftheChurchtoestablishpermanentconnectionbetweenman\'smentalinsecurityandanImmutableReality。Thetwopolesoftheantithesiswerefarremovedfromeachother,andthemethodormethodsadoptedtobringabouttheunionreflecttheprofoundcontrastoftheopposingelements。ItistheinnerprocessoffreemindinthisrealmofabstractsubjectivepietywhichHegelanalysesintheparttermedthe“unhappyconsciousness“—“unhappy“becausecravingcompleteconsciousnessofselfandneveratthisstageattainingit。
Theendofthismovement,andthereforethedisappearanceofalltheonesidednessofabstractindividualfreedomofself,isfoundwhen,throughtheabovestruggle,theredawnsontheselftheconsciousnessofitscompleteandexplicitunitywithrealityineveryshapeandform。ThisisthebeginningoftheabsolutesovereigntyoftheMind—
ConsciousnessofReasonassupreme。ThechangetothisnewconditionfoundhistoricalexpressionintheReformationandtheRenaissance。
FreeSelf-Consciousness(1)Stoicism(2)Scepticism(3)TheUnhappyConsciousnessC。FreeConcreteMind(AA)。ReasonTranslator\'scomments:Reasonisthefirststageintheanalysisofconcreteself-consciousofitselfinitsobjectandconsciousoftheobjectasuniversal。Reasonisnotamere“function“
ofmind,butastageofmind。Itthereforepossessesitsownpeculiarcontentandoperatesinaprocesspeculiartoitself。Itsaimistobecomecompletelyconsciousofitsownnature;
andtoacquirethisitmustdevelopitselfthroughitsvariousphases。Theprocessofdevelopmentisfromimmediatetomediate,fromwhatitisimplicitlytowhatitisexplicitly。
Thefirststepthereforeisreasonasimmediate-whereuniversalselfissimplyanddirectlyawareofitselfintheuniversalobject。Theoperationofconcretemindatthisstageisfoundwherereason“observes“。Theanalysisofobservationasthisoperatesinthevariousdomaincoveredbytheempiricalsciencesisthusthesubject-matterofthefollowingsection。TheprocessesofthesevarioussciencesareassumedinHegel\'sanalysis。
Observationmustchangeincharacterwiththeobjectsobserved;hencethedifferencebetweenobservationofinorganicandorganicnature,observationofmind,andoftherelationofmindandnature。Thedifficultiesreasonhastofaceinthisoperation,andthecontradictionsintowhichitfallsinseekingtofindlaws,etc。,tosatisfyitsaim,formthesubstanceofthefollowinganalysis。
ThenatureofreasonashereconceivedisthesourceandoriginofphilosophicalIdealism,whethertheidealismbeone-sidedorabsolute。Idealismisinfactthephilosophicalexpressionoftheprincipleofreason,justasthevariousempiricalsciencesmaybesaidtobethedevelopment,intheseveralwayswhichexperiencedictates,oftheoperationofrationalobservation。Hencetheintroductorypagesofthefollowinganalysisaredevotedtoastatementofthecharacteroftrueandfalseidealism。
ThehistoricalmaterialbehindtheabstractargumentelaboratedhereisprovidedbytheawakenedscientificspiritthatappearedaftertheReformation,andthemethodsandresultsoftheempiricalsciencesatthetimeHegelwrote。Inparticularthephysiologicalconceptionsof“irritability“,“sensibility“and“reproduction“,discussedonp。302ff。,werefirstformulatedbyHaller,ElementaPhysiologiae(1757-66)。Foralistofthechiefscientificworkswhichappearedshortlybeforeoraboutthetimethefollowinganalysiswaswritten,andwhichdoubtlessprovidedartofthematerialfortheanalysis,seeMerz,HistoryofEuropeanThought,Vol。1,pp。82-83。
Thepolemicalcriticismwhichrunsthroughthisasthroughalmosteverysectionoftheworkisdirectedagainsttheone-sidedidealismofHegel\'spredecessorsandtheimperfectconceptionofscientificmethoddisplayedbythecurrentscienceofnature。
V。CertaintyandTruthofReasonA。ObservationasafunctionofReasona。(1)ObservationofNature(2)ObservationofOrganicNatureb。Observationofself-consciousnessasself-consciousness,andasstandinginrelationtoexternalreality。LogicalandPsychologicallawsTranslator\'scomments:Observationcanbedirectedupontheself-consciousprocessofmindintwoways:itmayconsiderthemind\'sthinkingrelationtoreality,anditmayconsiderthemind\'sactiveorbioticrelationtoreality。Theresultofobservationhere,asintheforegoingcases,findsexpressioninanumberoflaws,whichit“frames“。The“laws“inthefirstcaseare“lawsofthought“orconnectedlogicallaws:inthelattercasewehavelawsofpsychicevents,“psychological“laws。
Theanalysisinthissectionshowstheinadequacyofobservationassuchtodealwithitsmaterialinbothcases。Itfailsinthefirstcasebecause(1)“lawsofthought“havenomeaningapartfromtherealitywithwhichthoughtisnecessarilyconcerned;lawsofthoughtarelawsof“thinking“,andthinkingisbothformandcontent:(2)observationgiveseachlawanabsolutebeingofitsown,asifitweredetachedfromtheunityofself-consciousness,whereasthisunityisthefundamentalprincipleofeachandallthelaws,whichonlyexistinandbythesingleprocessofthatunity。Henceatypeoflogicconfinedto“observing“lawsofthoughtisnecessarilyuntrue。Observationagainfailsinthesecondcasebecauseitisimpossibletoseparatemindfromitstotalenvironment。
Observationalorempiricalpsychologythereforeisincapableofgivinganadequateaccountofmindtheconstitutionoftheenvironmententersintoandinpartdeterminestheconstitutionofthepsychicevents,andthelattercannotbeexplainedevenaseventswithoutinterpretingtheformeratthesametime。
(1)LawsofThought(2)PsychologicalLaws(3)TheLawofIndiviualityc。Observationofself-consciousnesstoitsimmediateactuality。PhysiognomyandPhrenologyTranslator\'scomments:Intheprevioussectionobservationwasdirectedupontherelationofmindtoexternalreality—thenaturalenvironmentofindividuality。Therelationofmindtoitsownphysicalembodimentfurnishesafurtherobjectforobservationtotakeup。Howobservationoperatesindealingwiththisrelationformsthesubjectoftheanalysisinthepresentsection。
UptoandatthetimeatwhichHegelwrote,thediscussionofthisrelationtooktheformofwhatarenowlookeduponeitherasspurioussciencesoratbestasfallingwithinthescopeofphysiologyorpsychophysics。Thosepseudo-scienceswerePhysiognomyandPhrenologyorCranioscopy。Bothhadinoneformoranotherengagedtheattentionofreflectivemindsfromtheearliesttimes。Butaboutthelatterhalfoftheeighteenthcenturytheygainedunusualpublicprominence,inGermany,FranceandEngland,throughtheeloquenceandconvictionoftheirexponents;somuchsothatinGermanyalawwaspassedforbiddingthepromulgationofphrenologyasbeingdangeroustoreligion,andinEnglandalawofGeorgeIIre-enactedastatuteofElizabethimposingtheseverestpenaltiesonphysiognomists。ThechiefexponentsandpropagandistsofthesestudiesofthehumanindividualwereLavater(1741-1801),inphysiognomy,andGall(1758-1828),alongwithhispupilSpurzheim,inphrenology。Thepersonalcharacterandinfluenceofthefirst,combinedwithhisrhetoricaleloquence,compelledtheattentionnotonlyofthepopularmindbutofmenofoutstandingintelligence;whileGalllecturedpubliclyandwentfromoneUniversitytoanotherexpoundingthegeneralizationsdiscoveredormade。
Itwasimpossiblethereforeforanyphilosopherwhoattemptedtodiscusscomprehensivelythemethodsandprocedureofobservationalsciencetoignoretheclaimsmadebythesepseudo-sciencesortorefusetoexaminethevalidityofthelawstheyproposedtoformulate。Thiswasallthemorenecessarybecausetheobjecttheydealtwith—therelationofmindtoitsphysicalembodiment—wasandisunquestionablyanimportantfactofexperienceandpresentsaseriousproblemtophilosophy,especiallytoidealism。Hencewehaveinthefollowingsectionanelaborateanalysisoftheobservational“sciences“ofphysiognomyandphrenology—ananalysisthelengthofwhichcanonlybeexplainedandjustifiedbythehistoricalcircumstancesaboveindicated。
B。Realizationofrationalself-consciousnessthroughitselfTranslator\'scomments:Inthissectionwehavethesecondforminwhichrationalexperienceisrealized。In“observation“mindisdirectlyawareofitselfasinconsciousunitywithitsobject:itmakesnoeffortofitsowntorealizethisunity:itfindstheunitybylookingon,sotosay。Butitmayhavethesameexperiencebycreatingthroughitsowneffortanobjectconstitutedanddeterminedsolelybyitsself。Hereitdoesnotfindtheunityofitselfanditsobject;itmakestheobjectatonewithitselfbymouldingthecharacterandcontentoftheobjectafteritsownnature。Ascontrastedwithobservation,whichmaybecalledtheoperationof“theoretical“reason,thisnewwayofhavingarationalexperiencemaybecalledtheoperationof“practical“reason。Inthefirstwehavereasonintheformofknowledgeandscience,inthesecond,reasoninthesenseofrationalactionandpractice。
Itisthissecondwayofestablishingtheexperienceofreasonwhichisanalysedinthefollowingsections。Theimmediatelysucceedingsectiondescribestheexperienceinitsgeneralfeatures。Wehaveherethesphereofconsciouspurposeandthefoundationofmoralandsociallife。
a。PleasureandNecessityTranslator\'scomments:Thesucceedingthreesectionsdiscusstheprocedureofone-sidedsubjectiveindividualism—theattempttorealizetheindividualandyetnottranscendtheparticularindividuality。Thefirstthoughtofself-consciousnesswhenitseekstorealizeorobjectifyitselfasamereindividualistomaketheobjectiveelementreturndirectlytoitselfandbringasenseofincreaseofitsownindividualbeingorprivatePleasure。Thisisallitsinterestinthepracticalrealizationofitspurposes。Buttherealizationofpurposesisanexpressionofthelifeofreason,andreasonmeansuniversalityandsystematicconnexionofthecontentrealized。Hencetoseeksolelyprivatesatisfactionorpleasurebyaprocesswhichisinherentlyuniversalisacontradictioninterms。Thiscontradictiontheindividualdiscoversintheshapeofasharpandpainfulcontrastbetweenitsprivatefeelingofindividuationontheonehandandanetworkofuniversalconnexionontheother-thecontrastbetween“pleasure“and“necessity“。Bothfallwithintheindividual\'sexperienceasarationalagent,andhencethisnecessityishisownnecessityasmuchasthepleasureishisownpleasure。Intheoppositionbetweenthesefactorsthereisnoquestionastowhichmusttriumph,andwhichmustsurrender。
Thisisthetypeofexperienceanalysedinthefollowingsection。Itisanexperiencethatconstantlyrecursinthelife-historyofmostifnotallhumanbeingsatonestageoranotherintheirdevelopment。TheanalysiscontainedinthissectionisindirectlyasearchingcriticismofHedonisminallitsforms。
b。Thelawoftheheart,andthefrenzyofself-conceitTranslator\'scomments:ThefollowingsectionisananalysisofthemoodofmoralSentimentalism。Itisamoodofalltimesandappearsinmanyforms;butaboutHegel\'stimeitbecameprominentintheRomanticschoolandwasfranklyadoptedasapracticalattitudebycertainofitsrepresentatives。PerhapsoneofthemostremarkablehistoricexamplesofsentimentalismwasRousseau,towhomsomuchintheromanticmovementmaybetraced。IntheliteratureofHegel\'stime,andindeedinallliterature,nomoreperfecttypeofsentimentalismcanbefoundthanGoethe\'sWerther。Withsuchinstancesastheseinourmindsthesucceedinganalysisrequiresneitherexplanationnorcomment。
c。VirtueandthecourseoftheworldC。Individualitya。Self-containedindividualsassociatedasacommunityofanimalsandthedeceptionthencearising:therealfactTranslator\'scomments:Thetitleofthissectionsoundsunfamiliar;butthepurposeoftheanalysisisplain,andtheargumentisessentialasastageintheunfoldingofwhatrationalself-containedindividualityimplies。Italso,withtheimmediatelysucceedingsections,preparesthewayfortheconstructiveinterpretationoforganizedsociety。Indeed,withoutindividualsconstitutedasrationalself-consciousunits,eachself-contained,afreeself-consciouscommunitycouldnotexist。Theyformthecomponentseparatecellsofthe“organism“ofasociety,theelementsoutofwhichthecompactstructureofasocietyismade。Inthefirstinstanceandasanabstractaspectofassociatedlife,theycanberegarded,andforcertainpurposesareinfactregarded,asmerelydistinctanddetachedunitslivingtogether。Eachfunctionsasanindividuality,endowedwithcertainpowersandcapacitiesforself-expression,pursuinghisendsforhisowninterest,spontaneouslyputtingforthhisenergieswithoutbeingclearlyawareoforconcernedwithanyuniversalresultwhichhisessentiallyuniversalnaturemustbringabout。Inrealizinghisindividualityhegoesoutofhimselfinonesense,inanothersensehedoesnot。Byexpressinghimselfhecarriesoutsome“end“inwhichhehasan“interest“;he“does“something:hedoesadeedora“work“,whichquamereactionisnothingmorethanamodeofpurposedself-expression,andisnot,assuch,eithergoodorbad(atthisstage)。Whathedoesappearsasexternaltohimself,butishisownallthewhile,somethingwhichhehasformedandinwhichhespecificallyisinterested。Sucharesultatonceobjective,framedbyhimselfandreflectinghisinterest,is“fact“asdistinctfrom“thing“(whichisanobjectofperceptionatthelevelofconsciousness,notofself-consciousness)。Butbythenatureofthecasehecandistinguishwithinthisfactwhatisthereal“intent“(dieSacheSelbst)hehasinmindfromthemerelyobjectivecharacterofthefact(Sache);hecan,ifwemayputitso,distinguishthe“factofthematter“frommere“matteroffact“。Butotherindividualswithwhomheisassociatedandwhoaresimilarlyconstituted,carryonthesameprocessofseparateself-expression。Eachis“honest“and“honourable“insodoing:eachisconcernedwithhisown“realintent“andhisown“fact“。Bythisassociationtheynecessarilyareinterrelatedandintercommunicate。Butcommunicationonsuchabasisleadstomisconception,transferenceofintent,and“deception“ofeachotheraswellasofthemselves。Work,deeds,factshaveauniversalcharacteraswellasaparticularnature:intheformeraspecttheycannotbeone\'sown,inthelatteraspecttheycannotbeanother\'s:
yetbothaspectsareinseparable。Intercommunicationbetweentheseindividualsthusinevitablyleadstocontradiction。Itimpliesacommonuniversalnaturebetweentheindividuals:butsuchuniversalityatthisstageisimplicitnotexplicit。Thecontradictioninherentatthislevelbetweentheelementsinthesituationcreatedbyindividualsmerelycoexistingtogetherwithoutaconsciouscommonpurposecontrollingandguidingall,pointsthewayandcompelsanadvancetoanotherstageintheevolutionofrationalindividuality。
Whenself-consciousindividualsareregardedasmerely“together“,ascoexistingwithoutconsciouslycontrollingcommonpurposes,theyresembleacommunityorherdofanimals。
HencethetitleoftheSection。
Itisnotanaccidentalbutanessentialaspectofthelifeofsociety;itisindeedtheindispensablebasisofcommunitywhichisinonerespectlikeacommunityofants,thesystemofactivityofitscomponentindividuals,thougheachmayanddoesfulfilhispurposeashisownprivateinterest。
Thisaspectofsocialexistencecanbeover-emphasizedandmayberegardedattimesasthesolenatureofsociety。Theresultcanonlyleadtoconfusion。Suchaconceptionofsocietymayperhapsbesaidtobefoundwhere,asincertaineconomicconceptionsofsociety,societyisviewedasaherdofself-interestedunitseachpursuinghisownindividualends。Itisalsoseenincertainhistoricalformsofnationalpolitywhichrecurfromtimetotime。
(1)TheNotionofIndividualityasReal(2)ActualFactandIndividuality(3)MutualDeceptionandSpiritualSubstanceb。ReasonaslawgiverTranslator\'scomments:Thenextstepinthedevelopmentofindividualityistobringouttheuniversalconditionsofitsco-existencewithotherindividualities。Thisitcandobecauseitiscompleteinitself,andisessentiallyself-consciousreason。Theseconditionsaremany,becauseofthediversityofitsowncontentandoftherelationsinwhichitstands;andareyettheconditionsofindividualitywhichisoneandsingle。Hencetheirpluralityneverimpliesaseparation;theconditionslimiteachother\'soperationandtheirpreciseoperationmustbedetermined。
These,then,arethetwostagesindeterminingthegeneralconditionsorlawsofco-existenceofindividuality:(1)theenunciationofdifferentlawsbyandforrationalindividuality,(2)therelationoftheselawsinterse,andtothesingleprinciplefromwhichtheyallproceed。Bothstagesowetheirexistencetotheactivityofreason。Reasonpromulgateslaws,andcriticizes,teststhevalidityof,thelaws。
Hencethetwofollowingsections。
c。Reasonastestoflaws(BB)。SpiritVI。SpiritTranslator\'scomments:Intheprecedingsectionthereisanalysedtheattemptonthepartofindividualitytooperateasitsownlegislatorandjudgeoflawsholdingforindividuals。
Individualitymayclaimtheprivilegeofenunciatinglawsuniversalincharacterbuthavingtheirsourceandinspirationsolelyinthesingleindividual。Suchlawscanatbestonlyberegulativeandcannotbeconstitutiveofthesubstanceofindividuality;forthesubstanceofindividualitynecessarilyinvolvesotherindividualswithinit。Inshortindividualityisitselfonlyrealizedasapartofaconcretewholeofindividuals:itslifeisdrawnfromcommonlifeinandwithothers。Toattempttoenunciatelawsfromitselfasifitcouldcreatetheconditionsofitsowninherentuniversalitycanonlyissueinoneresult:lawsarefurnishedwithoutthecontentwhichgivesthoselawsanymeaning,orelsethelawsandthecontentremainfromfirsttolastexternaltooneanother。Butiflawsarepurelyformal,theyceasetobei。e。constitutiveconditionsofindividuality。Hencetheattemptabovedescribedissuretobreakdownbyitsownfutility。Whatiswantedtogivethelawsmeaningistheconcretesubstanceofsociallife:andwhenthisconcretesubstanceisprovidedipsofactotheattemptofindividualitytocreatelawsdisappears,fortheselawsarealreadyfoundinoperationinsociallife。Onlysuchlawshavereality。Butthisinvolvesthefurtherstepthatindividualityisonlyrealized,onlyfindsitstrueuniversalcontent,inandwiththeorderofasociety。Herealoneisindividualitywhatitisintruth,atonceaparticularfocusofself-consciousness,andarealizationofuniversalmind。Thisconditionwhereindividualityisconsciousofitselfonlyinandwithothers,andconsciousofthecommonlifeasitsown,isthestageofspiritualexistence。Spiritualexistenceandsociallifethusgotogether。Thefollowingsectionbeginstheanalysisofthisphaseofexperience,whichextendsfromthesimplestformofsociality—theFamily—uptothehighestexperienceofuniversalmind—
Religion。
TheimmediatelysucceedingsectionmaybetakenasthekeystoneofthewholearchofexperiencetraversedinthePhenomenology。Hereitispointedoutthatalltheprecedingphasesofexperiencehavenotmerelybeenpreparingthewayforwhatistofollow,butthatthevariousaspects,hithertotreatedasseparatemomentsofexperience,areinrealityabstractionsfromthelifeofconcretespiritnowtobediscussedandanalysed。
Itisnoteworthythatfromthispointonwardstheargumentislessnegativeinitsresulteitherdirectlyorindirectly,andismoresystematicandconstructive。Thisisnodoubtlargelybecausehithertoindividualmindassuchhasbeenunderreview,andthisisanabstractionfromsocialmindorspiritualexistence。
A。ObjectiveSpirit:theethicalordera。Theethicalworld:lawdivineandhuman:manandwomanTranslator\'scomments:Thefirststepintheanalysisofspiritistotakespiritasarealizedactualsocialorder,immediatelygivenasahistoricalfact,andpresentdirectlytotheminclsoftheindividualscomposingit。Thisissociallifeasanestablishedroutineofhumanadjustments,wherethenaturalcharacteristicsandconstitutionofitsmoralindividualsareabsorbedandbuiltintothesinglesubstanceofthelivingsocialwhole。Itisspiritasanobjectivelyembodiedwholeofessentiallyspiritualindividuals,withoutanyconsciousnessofoppositiontooneanotherortothewhole,andwithanabsoluteunbrokensenseoftheirownsecurityandfulfilmentwithinthesubstanceofsocialmind。Itisspiritatthelevelofnaiveacquiescenceinthelawandorderofconventionallife。
Butsuchaself-completetypeofexperiencehasvariouslevelsofrealization。Itcannotexistexceptthroughtheunionofopposingelements;andthecentralprincipleofallexperience,self-consciousness,whichassumesheresuchaconcreteform,hasabundantmaterialonwhichtoexerciseitsfunctionofcreatingandunitingdistinctions。Thefirstlevelisdeternlinedbythefactthatthesubstanceofsociallifeisconstitutedoutofthequasi-naturalphenomenaofhumangenusandspecies,ofraceandnationality,ontheonehand,andthepurelynaturalelementofspecializedindividualsexontheother。
Thesetwoaspectsgotogether;thesex-relationsofindividualsmaintainraceandnationality,thenationlivesinandthroughitssexuallydistinctindividuals。Thesocialorderasanrderisrealizedandmaintainedinthemediumoftheseelements。Thefactthatthisorderisanorderofuniversalmindgivesitapermanence,aninviolability,anabsoluteness,whichareinseparablefromit,soinseparablethattheorderislookedonashavingitsrootsintheAbsoluteMind,andasderivingitsauthorityfromit。Thesocialorderonthisaspectconsistsofadivinelyestablishedanddivinelysanctionedrégime;thegodsaretheguardiansofthecity,ofthehearthandthehome。Ontheotherhandtheexpressionofthisordervaries,andisenunciatedfromtimetotimeinthehistoryofacommunity。Theorderinthissenseismadebyman;thelawofthesocialorderthusbecomesahumanlaw,determinedbyhumanconditionsandhumanends;itisaroundofconventionsandcustoms。Thesetwoformsoforderareinseparableinthelifeofacommunity,andtheysubsisttogetherandsidebesideatthislevelofsocialconsciousness。Theymayleadtoconflictinthelifeoftheindividualinthecommunity,andhavetobereconciledbyforceorotherwise;andtheybecomeassociatedandconnectedwiththefundamentaldifferencesofindividualityabovereferredto。
Theanalysisofthislevelofsociallifeconstitutedasabovefurnishestheargumentofthefollowingsection。WithHegel\'streatmentoftherelationshipsholdingbetweenHusbandandWife,ParentsandChildren,BrothersandSistersshouldbereadAristotle\'sdiscussionofsocialfellowshipinEth。Nicom。Bks。VIII,IX。
1。NationandFamily(a)HumanLaw(b)DivineLaw(c)TheclaimsoftheIndividual2。TheProcessinvolvedintheseTwoLaws(a)GovernmentasPositivePower,WarasNegative(b)Man&WomanasBrother&Sister(c)TheInterfusionoftheseTwoLaws3。EthicalWorldasInfinitudeorSelf-completeTotalityb。Ethicalaction:knowledgehumanandDivine:GuiltandDestinyTranslator\'scomments:Afundamentalconditionofsocialorderisthatitismaintainedbyactiononthepartoftheindividualmembersofasociety;actionisafundamentalprincipleofdistinctionbetweenindividuals,isthewaytheymaketheircontributiontosociallife,andisalsothewaybywhichthecontinuanceofsociallifeisceaselesslybrokenandreconstituted。Inacomprehensivesensethereforeactionistheprinciplebywhichdistinctioninunityiscarriedoutinsociallife。Theconsiderationofitssignificanceisthusanessentialproblemofsocialmind。Actionmustbeconsideredatoncewithreferencetoindividualityandalsowithreferencetothoseconceptionsofsocialorderascontainingboth“divine“and“human“law。Inthefollowingsection,thisanalysisisundertaken。
ThespecifichistoricalbackgroundofHegel\'sthoughtinthissection,andtosomeextentintheprecedingsection,issuppliedbythesociallifeoftheGreekcitystate。TheGreekcitystatehasbeentakenasthetype,sotosay,ofspiritualexistencerealizedasaself-completeethicalorder。ButthesociallifeofGreeceishereinlargemeasurereadandinterpretedinthelightofthedramatizationofGreekethicalconceptionsbythegreatGreektragedians,especiallySophocles。Thisaccountsfortherepeatedreferencetothepurelydramaticconceptionofthe“destiny“orthe“pathic“elementinthelifeoftheindividualwhosespiritualexistenceiscompletelyboundupwiththeestablishedsocialorder。ItisinGreecethatwefindmostfullyrealizedtheall-sufficiencyofthestatefortheindividual,whichHegelhashereinview,asufficiencywhichwasatoncethestrengthandbeauty,aswellasthepathosandweakness,ofGreeksociallife。
WiththisandtheprecedingsectionshouldbereadHegel\'sPhilosophyofHistory,PartII,“TheGreekWorld“
(1)ContradictionofIndividualitywithitsEssence(2)OppositeCharacteristicsofEthicalAction(3)DissolutionoftheEthicalBeingc。LegalstatusTranslator\'scomments:Afurtherstepintherealizationoftheprincipleofcoherentsocialityisreachedwhentheindividualisinvestedwiththeuniversalityofthesocialorderbydefiniteenactmentsofthecontrollingagencyofthesocialwhole。Hiscontingencyasanindividualisremovedbyhisbeingexpresslytreatedasafocalunityofthewholeorder,whoseveryexistenceisstakedonmaintaininghimasaemitwithauniversalsignificance,andwhichstandsorfallsbymaintaininghiminthiscondition。Theuniversalorderisinthiscasenolongermerelyimplicit,merelyamatterofroutineandcustom;itisopenlyandobjectivelyexpressedinandthrougheachindividualcomponentofsociety。Theformthistakesisthedifferentiationofthesocialsubstanceintoatotalityof“persons“,eachandallinvestedwithexpressuniversal,orlegallyacknowledged,significance。Thisisthesphereoflegalpersonality,orofindividualityconstitutedbyasystemofRights。Itisasupremeachievementofsocialexistence,andthehighestattainmentofcoherentsocialexperience。
Hencethepresentsection。
Thisisaconditionorstageineverydevelopedcommunity。Butthespecifichistoricalmaterialforthissectionisderivedfromthelaw—constitutedsocialorderoftheRomanEmpire,especiallytheEmpireundertheAntonines。Here,whetherbycoincidenceorotherwise,theculminationofimperialruleandthe“goldenage“oflawsynchronized。ThetriumphofRomanimperialgovernmentandtheperfectingofthesystemofRomanjurisprudencewereaccomplishedduringthesameperiodoftime,aboutA。D。131-235。
Thereiseveryreasontosupposethatthetwonecessarilyaroseandfelltogether,andthatthedeclineanddisappearanceoftheRomanlaw-constitutedstateshouldthuspreparethewayforafurtherachievementofthesocialspiritofhumanity。Hencethehistoricaljustificationforthetransitiontothenextstageofsociallife,thatofself-discordantspiritualexistence。
WiththissectionshouldbereadHegel\'sPhilosophyofHistory,PartIII,especiallytheintroductiontothispart,andSect。III,c。1。,“RomeundertheEmperors。”
(1)Personality(2)ContingencyofthePerson(3)TheAbsolutePersonB。Spiritinself-estrangement:thedisciplineofcultureandcivilizationTranslator\'scomments:Thelifeofspiritasfoundinthesocialself-consciousnesshastwofundamentalfactors,theuniversalspiritorsocialwholeassuch,andtheindividualmemberassuch。Theinterrelationoftheseconstitutesthespiritualexistenceofsociety。
Eachbyitselfisabstract,buttherealizationofcompletespirituallifethroughandineachisabsolutelyessentialforspiritualfulfilment。Intheprecedinganalysisofspirit,oneformofthisprocesshasbeenconsidered,therealizationoftheobjectivesocialorderinandthroughindividuals。Inthesucceedingsection,withitsvarioussubsections,theotherprocessofsecuringthesamegeneralresultisanalysed:wehavethemovementbywhich,startingfromtheindividualspirit,therealizationofcompletespiritualexistenceisestablished。Theformerstartsfromthecompactsolidarityofthesocialsubstance,andresultsintheestablishmentofseparateandindividuallycompletelegalpersonalities。Thelatterprocessstartsfromtherigidlyexclusiveunityoftheindividualselfandissuesintheestablishmentofasocialorderofabsolutelyuniversalandthereforeabsolutelyfreewins。
Bothprocessesareperseabstract,necessarythoughtheyare:hence,asweshallfind,afurtherstageintheevolutionofspirithasstilltoappear。
Theprocessofspiritinthissecondstageassumesfromthestartaconsciouscontrastbetweentheindividualspiritandauniversalspiritualwhole,acontrast,which,whileprofound,theindividualseekstoremove,becausetheuniversalityofspiritualexistencewhichheseekstoattainisimplicitlyinvolvedinhisverybeingasaspiritualentity。Hisspirituallifeseems,tobeginwith,rentintwain,socompleteisthesenseoftheoppositionofthesefactorsconstitutinghislife。Histruelife,hisobjectiveembodiment,seemsoutsidehimaltogetherandyetisfelttobehisownself。Heseems“estranged“fromhiscompleteself,andtheestrangementseemshisowndoing,becausethesubstancefromwhichheiscutoffisfelttobehisown。Thecontrastisthedeepestthatspiritcanpossiblyexperience,justbecausespiritisandknowsitselftobeself-containedandself-complete,“theonlyreality“。Thecontrastcanonlyberemovedbyeffortandstruggle,fortheindividualspirithastocreateorrecreateforitselfandbyitsownactivityauniversalobjectivespiritualrealm,whichitimpliesandinwhichaloneitcanbefreeandfeelitselfathome。Thestrugglespiritgoesthroughisthusthegreatestinthewholerangeofitsexperience,fortheoppositiontobeovercomeistheprofoundestthatexists。Sinceitsaimistoachievethehighestforitself,nothingsacredcanbeallowedtostandinitsway。Itwillmakeanysacrifice,and,ifnecessary,producethedirestspiritualdisaster,aspiritual“reignofterror“,toaccomplishitsresult。
Themovementofspirithereanalysedcoverseveryformoftheindividual\'s“struggleforasubstantialspirituallife“。Itembracesthe“intellectual“,“economic“,“religious“,andthe“ethical“inthenarrowersenseoftheseterms;itembracesallthatwemeanby“culture“
and“civilization“。Hencethevariouspartsoftheargument:—spiritual“discipline“,“enlightenment“,thepursuitof“wealth“,“belief“and“superstition“,“absolutefreedom“。
Theprocessofspirituallifepassedundercriticalreviewhereisfamiliartoagreaterorlessextentineveryageandeverysociety。Buttheactualhistoricalmaterialpresenttothemindofthewriterisderivedfrom(1)theperiodofEuropeanhistoryembracingtheentranceofChristianityandChristianphilosophyintoEuropeancivilizationafterthefalloftheRomanEmpire,andtheintellectual,“humanistic“,awakeningoftheRenaissancewhichledontotheecclesiasticalrevolutionknownastheReformation:(2)therationalisticmovementoftheeighteenthcentury,theso-called“Enlightenment“whichprocededandculminatedintheFrenchRevolution,thesupremeoutburstofspiritualemancipationknowninEuropeanhistory。Thesetwoperiods,farremovedastheyareintime,havemuchincommon。Theyembodyprinciplesofspiritualdevelopmentfundamentally&like,andarethereforefreelydrawnuponintheanalysis,regardlessofhistoricity。
MuchofHegel\'sanalysisofthefirststageofthisspiritualmovementhasalsodirectlyinviewthecharacterofRameauinDiderot\'sLeneveudeRameau。Thisremarkableworkwaswrittenin1760,butwasfirstbroughttothenoticeoftheliterarypublicbyGoethe,whotranslatedandpublishedtheworkin1805。ItthuscameintoHegel\'shandswhilehewaswritingthePhenomenology:andthisperhapsaccountstherepeatedreferencestoitintheargument。Theterm“self-estrangedspirit“withwhichheheadsthissectionoccursinGoethe\'stranslation。Rameauisanextremetypeofsuchaspirit。
WiththissectionshouldbereadHegel\'sPhilosophyofHistory,Pt。III,§3,c。2;Pt。IV,§2,c。1,§3,c。1,3:theHistoryofPhilosophy,Pt。3,Introduction,andc。2,“TheFrenchPhilosophyandtheGermanEnlightenment。”
I。Theworldofspiritinself-estrangementa。Cultureanditsrealmofactualrealityb。BeliefandpureinsightII。Enlightenmenta。Thestruggleofenlightenmentwithsuperstitionb。ThetruthofenlightenmentIII。AbsolutefreedomandterrorC。Spiritcertainofitself:MoralityTranslator\'scomments:Thefollowingsectiondealswiththefinalandhigheststageinthelifeoffinitespiritualexperienceasrealizedintheconcreteformofahistoricalsociety。
Herethesubstanceofthesocialorderistherealcontentoftheself-consciousindividual:
thatsubstancehasbecomesubjectified;wehavethereforeaself-containedspiritualsubject。Thediscordanceinvolvedinthesphereofcultureandenlightenmentisovercomebytheselfknowingandrealizingitselfasacompletelyuniversalself-determiningfreewill,itsworldwithinitself,anditsselfitsownworld。Eachreflectsthewhole(thetotalityofsociallife)initselfsoperfectlythatwhatitdoesistransparentlythedoingofthewholeasmuchasitsowndoing。SuchasphereofspiritualexistenceisMorality,theall-sufficientspiritualorderofthefinitespiritasanindividual。Themeaningassignedto“morality“hereisthatexpressedbyKantwhenhesaysthatmoralityis“therelationofactionstotheautonomyofthewill,i。e。topossibleuniversallegislationthroughmaximsofthewill“。Inotherwords,alltheuniversalityconstitutingtheinterrelationsoffinitespiritsinasocietyisepitomizedinthesouloftheactingindividual,whocanthusquitelegitimatelylookuponitselfastheself-regulatingsourceofalluniversalconditionsofaction。
Itisinevitablethatsuchaconcretemodeofexperienceshouldhaveandshouldpassthroughvariousstagesintheprocessofvariousaspectsfullyrealizingitsnature。Theindividualmaylayexclusivestressontheself-completenesswhichhepossessesthroughbeingthesourceandoriginofhisownlaws。Hisself-legislativefunction,justbecauseitcarrieswithitthesenseofuniversality,mayappearsosupremelyimportantthatalltheactualdetailofhislifecomestobetreatedasexternal,indifferent,andcontingent。Thisdetailnodoubtisessentialtogivebodyandsubstancetohisspiritualindividuality,buttheuniversalityofhiswillsofartranscendseachandeverydetailofcontentastoseembyitselfthesoleandall-sufficientrealityofhisbeing。Thecontentofhislifeonlyentersintoconsiderationasanelementtoberegulatedandmadetoconformtotheuniversal:therelationsoconstitutedbetweencontentanduniversalisfoundintheconsciousnessofDuty。Sincethecontentisthussubordinate,thoughabsolutelyessentialtogiveevenmeaningtotheideaandthe“fulfilment“ofduty,andsincetheuniversalisthesupremelyimportantfact,notmerelyisdutytobefulfilledforduty\'ssake,butthedutyinquestionispureduty。The“goodwill“isthepurelyuniversalwill,andistheonlywillintheworldfromthispointofview。
Inthefirstsection(a)Hegelanalysesthisphaseofthemorallife。
ThehistoricalmaterialthewriterhasinmindisamoralattitudewhichcameintoprominenceatthetimeoftheRomanticmovementtowardstheendoftheeighteenthandthebeginningofthenineteenthcenturies。ItfounditsphilosophicalexpressioninthemoraltheoriesofKantandFichte;andLessingmaybetakenasatypicalrepresentativeinliteratureofthesameattitude。
a。Themoralviewoftheworldb。DissemblanceTranslator\'scomments:Thefirststagefailsasitstandstodocompletejusticetothefullmeaningofmorality。Bothelementsinthespirituallycompleteindividualareessential,andeachhastoberecognized。Theuniversalmustbeobjectifiedinnature(“externalnature“and“sensibility“),andnaturemustbesubjectivizedinspirit。Anotherconditionorstageofthemoralconsciousness,therefore,isfoundwheretheequalityofvalueoftheelementsofthemoralconsciousnessisadmitted,withouttheseelementsbeingcompletelyfusedintoasingleandtotalattitude。Theuniversalisrealizedinmanywaysandforms,andeachisacceptedinturnasthetruemoralreality。Themindpassesfromonetotheother;whenoneisacceptedtheotherissetaside。Themoralconsciousnesstries,sotosay,tohidefromitselftheendlessdiversityofitsappearances,simplybecauseitclingstenaciouslytotheideathattheinherentself-completenessofitselfisaunitypersewhichcanonlyadmitdiversityonsufferance。Formerlyiteliminatedalldiversitybyeliminatingthesourceofdiversity-nature。Hereitisforcedtoadmitdiversity,andyetcannotgiveuptheclaimtobeanabstractsingleunityindependentofdifference。Thusitsconditionhereisamixtureofself-realizationandself-sophistication-aconditionwhichHegelcharacterizesas“Dissemblance“,andwhichbordersuponandmaypassinto“Hypocrisy“。Hegelregardsthisattitudeastheinevitableoutcomeofthepreceding。
c。Conscience:the“beautifulsoul“:EvilandtheforgivenessofitTranslator\'scomments:Theone-sidednessofeachoftheprecedingstagesisremovedwhenthemoralconsciousnessassumestheattitudeofConscience。Heretheindividualisatonceself-legislatingandyetsureoftheunityandselfcompletenessofitsownwillinthemidstofalldiversityofmoralcontent。Theimmediacyinvolvedintheideaofa“self-legislating“willappearsintheperceptualdirectnessoftheactionofconscience:it“sees“whatisrightanddoestherightwithouthesitation。Butitisnotanabstract“faculty“
ofwillingindependentofthevariedcontentoftheindividual\'smoralexperience。Theuniversalityoftheindividualpermeatesandpervadesallthecontentofhisbeingandmakeshimaconcretemoralindividuality,athomewithhimselfinthesmallestdetailaswellasinthelargerissuesofhisself-completespiritualexistence。Conscience,asButlersays,isa“system“or“constitution“,analogousinthecaseoftheindividualtotheobjectifiedsystemofthestateanditsinstitutions。Theself-deceptionofthesecondone-sidedphaseofmoralexperienceseemsalsotohavenoplaceinConscience,forConscienceisthetransparentandself-revealingunityinallthecontentofmoralindividuality。Onlyonthisconditioncanitbeabsolutelyconfidentandcertainofitselfinallitsfunctions,andthiscertaintyofitselfistheinalienablecharacteristicofconscience。Itthinksitcannotbedeceivedaboutitself,canneitherdeludeitselfnorothers,butfreelyrealizesallthatitprofessestobeandprofessestobeallthatitrealizes,Itisthusthesupremeachievementoffinitespiritualexistence;butithasnomeaningapartfromtheexistenceoffinitespiritintheformofsociety。
Itsveryconditions,however,giverisetodelusionanddeceptionofanotherkind。For,socompleteisitsworldanditslife,thatitmayattempttocutitselfofffromtheconcretesubstanceofactualsocietywhichalonemakespossibletheexistenceofconscience。Itthentriestocultivategoodnessinsolitaryisolationfromtheactualsocialwhole。Thisistheattitudeofthe“beautifulsoul“,atypeofspirituallifecultivatedbythe“Moravians“,andfamiliarduringtheRomanticmovement。Novalisisthebest-knownexample;theclassicalinterpretationofthemoodwasgiveninGoethe\'sMeister\'sLehrjahre,Bk。6。Ithastheself-confidenceandindividualinspirationofConscience,butfranklyrejectstheconcreteobjectivitywhichsecuresforConscienceliberationfrommeresubjectivity。Theveryrejectionofobjectivityistheonlyachievementofthe“beautifulsoul“,andisheldtobethegreatesttriumphofitsself-consciousfreedom。Itfleesfromconcretemoralaction,andluxuriatesinastateofself-hypnotizedinactivity。Stillittakesupthisattitudeintheinterestsof“puregoodness“,andhenceinwithdrawingfromthelowlydeedsofthedailymorallifeitindulgesallthemoreintheself-cloisteredcultofthebeautyofholiness。Itismoralindividualismturnedintomysticself-absorption。liegel\'sanalysisbringsoutthatthistypeofspiritisinprincipleasitwasinfactthedirectallyofmoralevil。For(1)itsrefusaltoactmeansindifferencetoallaction,goodandbadalike,andtherejectionofthedemandsofdutyispreciselyimmorality;(,2)itsself-closedisolationdestroystheveryprincipleoftruemorality,universalityofwill,recognitionandacknowledgmentbyothersoftheclaimsoftheindividualwill。
ButthisextremityoffinitespiritualexperienceistheopportunityofAbsoluteSpirit。Theattitudeofthismysticalmoralindividualityisindirectlyanindicationofthefinittudeofthemoralpointofviewandthereforeofitsfailuretosupplytheabsoluteself-completenesswhichspiritrequires。TheveryconsciousnessbyfinitespiritofitsinherentincompletenessisimplicitlyaconsciousnessoftheAbsoluteSpirit。TheconsciousnessofAbsoluteSpiritistheattitudeofexperienceknownasReligion。
(CC)。ReligionVII。ReligioninGeneralTranslator\'scomments:TheappearanceofAbsoluteSpiritasaprincipleconstitutingonitsownaccountadistinctivestageofexperienceisatonceademandoftheprecedingdevelopmentandaconditionofmakingexperienceself-complete。Finiteorsocializedspiritualexistenceisatitsbestincapableofestablishingthetruththat“Spiritistheonlyreality“;forthemorefinitespiritapproximatestothestateofclaimingtobeself-containedthemoreisitdependentonuniversalself-consciousness。Atrans-finiteorAbsoluteSpiritualBeingassuchisthusnecessarytorealizeandsustainthefullnessofmeaningwhichfinitespiritpossesses。Moreover,if“thetruthisthewhole“,andonlysoistruthself-completeandself-explaining,andifrealityisessentiallyspiritual—thenexperienceonlyfindsitscompletemeaningrealizedintheprincipleofAbsoluteSpirit。
HencethefinalstageofthePhenomenologyofexperienceistheappearancethereinofAbsoluteSpirit。Moreover,AbsoluteSpirit,initsowndistinctiveexistence,couldonlyappearattheendoftheprocessofexperience,forthewholeofthatprocessisrequiredtorevealandtoconstitutethesubstanceofwhichtheAbsoluteconsists。ButthepeculiarityofthestagenowreachedisthatheretheAbsoluteoperatesinitsundividedtotalitytoformadefinitetypeofexperience;or,inthelanguageofthetext,wehavetheAbsolutehere“consciousofitsself“。Nodoubt,inallthepreviousstages,“consciousness“,“self-consciousness“,“reason“,“spirit“,theAbsolutehasbeenimpliedasalimitingprinciple,atoncesubstantiatinganddeterminingtheboundariesofeachstage:henceeachstagehadanAbsoluteofitsown,thecharacterofwhichwasderivedineachcasefromthepeculiarityofthestageinquestion。Now,however,wehavetheAbsolutebyitself,initssingleself-completeness,asthesoleformativefactorofacertaintypeofexperience。
TheAbsolute,then,initsownself-completerealityappearsastheconstitutiveprincipleofexperience。Theexperiencehereistheself-consciousnessofAbsoluteSpirit;itappearstoitselfinallitsobjects。Sinceallthemodesoffinitudehithertoconsidered(consciousness,self-consciousness,etc。)areembracedinitssingletotality,itmayuseeachandallofthesevariousmodesasthemediathroughandinwhichtoappear。WhenitappearsinandthroughthesemodesoffinitudewehavetheattitudeofReligion。Sincethesemodes,aswesaw,differ,thereligiousattitudediffers;andaccordinglywehavevarioustypesorformsofreligion。
Eachoftheseforms,inandthroughwhichtheAbsoluteappears,iscircumscribedinitsnatureandprocess;eachisperseinadequatetotherevelationofcompleteabsoluteself-consciousness:hencethevarietyofreligionisnecessitatedbyandisindirectlyduetothefailureofanyonetypeandtheinadequacyofeverysingletypetorevealtheAbsolutecompletely。Aformofappearanceorself-manifestationoftheabsoluteisthereforedemandedwhichwillrevealAbsoluteSpiritadequatelytoitselfasitessentiallyisinitself。
Hereitwillknowitself,sotosay,facetoface,andwithperfectcompleteness。ThisformisAbsoluteKnowledge。HenceReligionandAbsoluteKnowledgearethefinalstagesintheargumentofthePhenomenology。Theformerisdealtwithintheimmediatelysucceedingsection(VII)anditsvarioussubsections;thelatterformsthesubjectoftheconcludingsection(VIII)ofthework。
A。NaturalReligionTranslator\'scomments:ThearrangementoftheanalysisofReligionandthedivisionsintothevarioussubsectionsare,asindicatedintheprecedingnote(p。683),determinedbythegeneraldevelopmentofexperience。Thatdevelopmentisfromtheimmediatethroughmediationtothefusionofimmediacyandmediation。ThestagesofthedevelopmentofexperienceareConsciousness,Self-consciousness,Reason,thelatterleadingtoitshighestlevel—finiteSpiritualexistence。ThedevelopmentofReligionfollowsthesevariouswaysinwhichobjectsaregiveninexperience,andthethreechiefdivisionsofReligionaredeterminedaccordingly:NaturalReligionisreligionatthelevelofConsciousness;Art,ReligionatthelevelofSelf-consciousness;RevealedReligionisReligionatthelevelofReasonandSpirit。Eachoftheseisagainsubdivided,andthesubdivisionfollowsmoreorlesscloselythevarioussubdivisionsofthesethreeultimatelevelsofexperience—
Consciousness,etc。Thus,inNaturalReligion,wehaveReligionatthelevelofSense-certainty—“Light“:ReligionatthelevelofPerception—“Life“:andReligionatthelevelofUnderstanding—thereciprocalrelationconstitutedbythe“playofforces“appearsastherelationofthe“Artificer“tohisownproduct。
Thegeneralprincipleisnotworkedoutindetail,withthesameobviousness,inthecaseoftheothertwoprimarytypesofReligion—ArtandRevealedReligion。Butthesamegeneralmethodofdevelopmentispursuedinthesecases。
Thehistoricalmaterialbeforethemindofthewriteris,asmightbeexpected,thevariousreligionswhichhavehistoricallyappearedamongstmankind。Thesereligionsaretreated,however,asillustrationsofprinciplesdominatingthereligiousconsciousnessmgeneral,ratherthanasmerelyhistoricalphenomena。
WiththesucceedingargumentshouldbereadHegel\'sPhilosophyofReligion,PartII,SectionsIandII,andPartIII。
B。ReligionintheformofArta。Theabstractworkofartb。Thelivingworkofartc。ThespiritualworkofartC。RevealedReligion(DD)。AbsoluteKnowledgeVIII。AbsoluteKnowledgePREFACE
OnscientificknowledgeInthecaseofaphilosophicalworkitseemsnotonlysuperfluous,but,inviewofthenatureofphilosophy,eveninappropriateandmisleadingtobegin,aswritersusuallydoinapreface,byexplainingtheendtheauthorhadinmind,thecircumstanceswhichgaverisetothework,andtherelationinwhichthewritertakesittostandtoothertreatisesonthesamesubject,writtenbyhispredecessorsorhiscontemporaries。Forwhateveritmightbesuitabletostateaboutphilosophyinapreface—say,anhistoricalsketchofthemaindriftandpointofview,thegeneralcontentandresults,astringofdesultoryassertionsandassurancesaboutthetruth—thiscannotbeacceptedastheformandmannerinwhichtoexpoundphilosophicaltruth。
Moreover,becausephilosophyhasitsbeingessentiallyintheelementofthatuniversalitywhichenclosestheparticularwithinit,theendorfinalresultseems,inthecaseofphilosophymorethaninthatofothersciences,tohaveabsolutelyexpressedthecompletefactitselfinitsverynature;
contrastedwiththatthemereprocessofbringingittolightwouldseem,properlyspeaking,tohavenoessentialsignificance。Ontheotherhand,inthegeneralideaofe。g。anatomy-theknowledgeofthepartsofthebodyregardedaslifeless—wearequitesurewedonotpossesstheobjectiveconcretefact,theactualcontentofthescience,butmust,overandabove,beconcernedwithparticulars。Further,inthecaseofsuchacollectionofitemsofknowledge,whichhasnorealrighttothenameofscience,anytalkaboutpurposeandsuchlikegeneralitiesisnotcommonlyverydifferentfromthedescriptiveandsuperficialwayinwhichthecontentsofthesciencethesenervesandmuscles,etc-arethemselvesspokenof。Inphilosophy,ontheotherhand,itwouldatoncebefeltincongruousweresuchamethodmadeuseofandyetshownbyphilosophyitselftobeincapableofgraspingthetruth。
Inthesamewaytoo,bydeterminingtherelationwhichaphilosophicalworkprofessestohavetoothertreatisesonthesamesubject,anextraneousinterestisintroduced,andobscurityisthrownoverthepointatissueintheknowledgeofthetruth。Themoretheordinarymindtakestheoppositionbetweentrueandfalsetobefixed,themoreisitaccustomedtoexpecteitheragreementorcontradictionwithagivenphilosophicalsystem,andonlytoseereasonfortheoneortheotherinanyexplanatorystatementconcerningsuchasystem。Itdoesnotconceivethediversityofphilosophicalsystemsastheprogressiveevolutionoftruth;rather,itseesonlycontradictioninthatvarietv。Thebuddisappearswhentheblossombreaksthrough,andwemightsaythattheformerisrefutedbythelatter;inthesamewaywhenthefruitcomes,theblossommaybeexplainedtobeafalseformoftheplant\'sexistence,forthefruitappearsasitstruenatureinplaceoftheblossom。Thesestagesarenotmerelydifferentiated;theysupplantoneanotherasbeingincompatiblewithoneanother。Buttheceaselessactivityoftheirowninherentnaturemakesthematthesametimemomentsofanorganicunity,wheretheynotmerelydonotcontradictoneanother,butwhereoneisasnecessaryastheother;andthisequalnecessityofallmomentsconstitutesaloneandtherebythelifeofthewhole。Butcontradictionasbetweenphilosophicalsystemsisnotwonttobeconceivedinthisway;ontheotherhand,themindperceivingthecontradictiondoesnotcommonlyknowhowtorelieveitorkeepitfreefromitsonesidedness,andtorecognizeinwhatseemsconflictingandinherentlyantagonisticthepresenceofmutuallynecessarymoments。
Thedemandforsuchexplanations,asalsotheattemptstosatisfythisdemand,veryeasily,passfortheessentialbusinessphilosophyhastoundertake。Wherecouldtheinmosttruthofaphilosophicalworkbefoundbetterexpressedthaninitspurposesandresults?andinwhatwaycouldthesebemoredefinitelyknownthanthroughtheirdistinctionfromwhatisproducedduringthesameperiodbyothersworkinginthesamefield?If,however,suchprocedureistopassformorethanthebeginningofknowledge,ifitistopassforactuallyknowing,thenwemust,inpointoffact,lookonitasadeviceforavoidingtherealbusinessatissue,anattempttocombinetheappearanceofbeinginearnestandtakingtroubleaboutthesubjectwithanactualneglectofthesubjectaltogether。Fortherealsubject-matterisnotexhaustedinitspurpose,butinworkingthematterout;noristhemereresultattainedtheconcretewholeitself,buttheresultalongwiththeprocessofarrivingatit。Thepurposeofitselfisalifelessuniversal,justasthegeneraldriftisamereactivityinacertaindirection,whichisstillwithoutitsconcreterealization;andthenakedresultisthecorpseofthesystemwhichhasleftitsguidingtendencybehindit。Similarly,thedistinctivedifferenceofanythingisrathertheboundary,thelimit,ofthesubject;itisfoundatthatpointwherethesubject-matterstops,oritiswhatthissubject-matterisnot。Totroubleoneselfinthisfashionwiththepurposeandresults,andagainwiththedifferences,thepositionstakenupandjudgmentspassedbyonethinkerandanother,isthereforeaneasiertaskthanperhapsitseems。
Forinsteadoflayingholdofthematterinhand,aprocedureofthatkindisallthewhileawayfromthesubjectaltogether。Insteadofdwellingwithinitandbecomingabsorbedbyit,knowledgeofthatsortisalwaysgraspingatsomethingelse;suchknowledge,insteadkeepingtothesubject-matterandgivingitselfuptoit,nevergetsawayfromitself。Theeasiestthingofallistopassjudgmentsonwhathasasolidsubstantialcontent;itismoredifficulttograspit,andmostofalldifficulttodobothtogetherandproducethesystematicexpositionofit。
ThebeginningofcultureandofthestruggletopassoutoftheunbrokenimmediacyofnaivePsychicallifehasalwaystobemadebyacquiringknowledgeofuniversalprinciplesandpointsofview,bystriving,inthefirstinstance,toworkupsimplytothethoughtofthesubject-matteringeneral,notforgettingatthesametimetogivereasonsforsupportingitorrefutingit,toapprehendtheconcreterichesandfullnesscontainedinitsvariousdeterminatequalities,andtoknowhowtofurnishacoherent,orderlyaccountofitandaresponsiblejudgmentuponit。Thisbeginningofmentalcultivationwill,however,verysoonmakewayfortheearnestnessofactuallifeinallitsfullness,whichleadstoalivingexperienceofthesubject-matteritself;andwhen,inaddition,conceptualthoughtstrenuouslypenetratestotheverydepthsofitsmeaning,suchknowledgeandstyleofjudgmentwillkeeptheirclueplaceineverydaythoughtandconversation。
2。TheelementoftruthistheConcept/Notion(Begriff),anditstrueformthescientificsystemThesystematicdevelopmentoftruthinscientificformcanalonebethetrueshapeinwhichtruthexists。Tohelptobringphilosophynearertotheformofscience-thatgoalwhereitcanlayasidethenameofloveofknowledgeandbeactualknowledge-thatiswhatIhavesetbeforeme。Theinnernecessitythatknowledgeshouldbescienceliesinitsverynature;andtheadequateandsufficientexplanationforthisliessimplyandsolelyinthesystematicexpositionOfphilosophyitself。
Theexternalnecessity,however,sofarasthisisapprehendedinauniversalway,andapartfromtheaccidentofthepersonalelementandtheparticularoccasioninginfluencesaffectingtheindividual,isthesameastheinternal:itliesintheformandshapeinwhichtheprocessoftimepresentstheexistenceofitsmoments。Toshowthatthetimeprocessdoesraisephilosophytothelevelofscientificsystemwould,therefore,betheonlytruejustificationoftheattemptswhichaimatprovingthatphilosophymustassumethischaracter;becausethetemporalprocesswouldthusbringoutandlaybarethenecessityofit,nay,more,wouldatthesametimebecarryingoutthatveryaimitself。
Whenwestatethetrueformoftruthtobeitsscientificcharacter-or,whatisthesamething,whenitismaintainedthattruthfindsthemediumofitsexistenceinnotionsorconceptionsalone-Iknowthatthisseemstocontradictanideawithallitsconsequenceswhichmakesgreatpretensionsandhasgainedwidespreadacceptanceandconvictionatthepresenttime。Awordofexplanationconcerningthiscontradictionseems,therefore,notoutofplace,eventhoughatthisstageitcanamounttonomorethanadogmaticassuranceexactlyliketheviewweareopposing。If,thatistosay,truthexistsmerelyinwhat,orratherexistsmerelyaswhat,iscalledatonetimeintuition,atanotherimmediateknowledgeoftheAbsolute,Religion,Being-notbeinginthecentreofdivinelove,buttheveryBeingofthiscentre,oftheAbsoluteitself-fromthatpointofviewitisrathertheoppositeofthenotionalorconceptualformwhichwouldberequiredforsystematicphilosophicalexposition。TheAbsoluteonthisviewisnottobegraspedinconceptualform,butfelt,intuited;itisnotitsconception,butthefeelingofitandintuitionofitthataretohavethesayandfindexpression。
3。PresentpositionofthespiritIfweconsidertheappearanceofaclaimlikethisinitsmoregeneralsetting,andlookatthelevelwhichtheself-consciousmindatpresentoccupies,weshallfindthatself-consciousnesshasgotbeyondthesubstantialfullnessoflife,whichitusedtocarryonintheelementofthought-beyondthestateofimmediacyofbelief,beyondthesatisfactionandsecurityarisingfromtheassurancewhichconsciousnesspossessedofbeingreconciledwithultimaterealityandwithitsall。pervadingpresence,withinaswellaswithout。Self-consciousmindhasnotmerelypassedbeyondthattotheoppositeextremeofinsubstantialreflectionofselfintoself,butbeyondthistoo。Ithasnotmerelylostitsessentialandconcretelife,itisalsoconsciousofthislossandofthetransitoryfinitudecharacteristicofitscontent。Turningawayfromthehusksithastofeedon,andconfessingthatitliesinwickednessandsin,itrevilesitselfforsodoing,andnowdesiresfromphilosophynotsomuchtobringittoaknowledgeofwhatitis,astoobtainonceagainthroughphilosophytherestorationofthatsenseofsolidityandsubstantialityofexistenceithaslost。Philosophyisthusexpectednotsomuchtomeetthiswantbyopeningupthecompactsolidityofsubstantialexistence,andbringingthistothelightandlevelofself-consciousness-isnotsomuchtobringchaoticconsciouslifebacktotheorderlywaysofthought,andthesimplicityofthenotion,astoruntogetherwhatthoughthasdividedasundersuppressthenotionwithitsdistinctions,andrestorethefeelingofexistence。Whatitwantsfromphilosophyisnotsomuchinsightasedification。Thebeautifultheholy,theeternal,religion,love-thesearethebaitrequiredtoawakenthedesiretobite:notthenotion,butecstasy,notthemarchofcoldnecessityinthesubject-matter,butfermentandenthusiasm-thesearetobethewaysbywhichthewealthoftheconcretesubstanceistobestoredandincreasinglyextended。
Withthisdemandtheregoesthestrenuouseffort,almostperfervidlyzealousinitsactivity,torescuemankindfrombeingsunkeninwhatissensuous,vulgar,andoffleetingimportance,andtoraisemen\'seyestothestars;asifmenhadquiteforgottenthedivine,andwereonthevergeoffindingsatisfaction,likeworms,inmudandwater。Timewaswhenmanhadaheaven,deckedandfittedoutwithendlesswealthofthoughtsandpictures。Thesignificanceofallthatis,layinthethreadoflightbywhichitwasattachedtoheaven;insteadofdwellinginthepresentasitishereandnow,theeyeglancedawayoverthepresenttotheDivine,away,sotosay,toapresentthatliesbeyond。Themind\'sgazehadtobedirectedundercompulsiontowhatisearthly,andkeptfixedthere;andithasneededalongtimetointroducethatclearness,whichonlycelestialrealitieshad,intothecrassnessandconfusionshroudingthesenseofthings,earthly,andtomakeattentiontotheimmediatepresentassuch,whichwascalledExperience,ofinterestandofvalue。Nowwehaveapparentlytheneedfortheoppositeofallthis;man\'smindandinterestaresodeeplyrootedintheearthlythatwerequirealikepowertohavethemraisedabovethatlevel。Hisspiritshowssuchpovertyofnaturethatitseemstolongforthemerepitifulfeelingofthedivineintheabstract,andtogetrefreshmentfromthat,likeawandererinthedesertcravingforthemerestmouthfulofwater。Bythelittlewhichcanthussatisfytheneedsofthehumanspiritwecanmeasuretheextentofitsloss。
Thiseasycontentmentinreceiving,orstinginessingiving,doesnotsuitthecharacterofscience。
Themanwhoonlyseeksedification,whowantstoenvelopinmistthemanifolddiversityofhisearthlyexistenceandthought,andcravesafterthevagueenjoymentofthisvagueandindeterminateDivinity-hemaylookwherehelikestofindthis:hewilleasilyfindforhimselfthemeanstoprocuresomethinghecanraveoverandpuffhimselfupwithal。Butphilosophymustbewareofwishingtobeedifying。
Stilllessmustthiskindofcontentment,whichholdsscienceincontempt,takeuponitselftoclaimthatravingobscurantismofthissortissomethinghigherthanscience。Theseapocalypticutterancespretendtooccupytheverycentreandthedeepestdepths;theylookaskanceatalldefinitenessandprecisenessmeaning;andtheydeliberatelyholdbackfromconceptualthinkingandtheconstrainingnecessitiesofthought,asbeingthesortofreflectionwhich,theysay,canonlyfeelathomeinthesphereoffinitude。Butjustasthe-reisabreadthwhichisemptiness,thereisadepthwhichisemptytoo:aswemayhaveanextensionofsubstancewhichoverflowsintofinitemultiplicitywithoutthepowerofkeepingthemanifoldtogether,inthesamewaywemayhaveaninsubstantialintensitywhich,keepingitselfinasmereforcewithoutactualexpression,isnobetterthansuperficiality。Theforceofmindisonlyasgreatasitsexpression;itsdepthonlyasdeepasitspowertoexpandandloseitselfwhenspendingandgivingoutitssubstance。Moreover,whenthisunreflectiveemotionalknowledgemakesapretenceofhavingimmerseditsownveryselfinthedepthsoftheabsoluteBeing,andofphilosophizinginallholinessandtruth,ithidesfromitselfthefactthatinsteadofdevotiontoGod,itrather,bythiscontemptforallmeasurableprecisionanddefiniteness,simplyattestsinitsowncasethefortuitouscharacterofitscontent,andintheotherendowsGodwithitsowncaprice。Whensuchmindscommitthemselvestotheunrestrainedfermentofsheeremotion,theythinkthat,byputtingaveiloverself-consciousness,andsurrenderingallunderstanding,theyarethusGod\'sbelovedonestowhomHegivesHiswisdominsleep。Thisisthereason,too,thatinpointoffact,whattheydoconceiveandbringforthinsleepisdreams。
Fortherestitisnotdifficulttoseethatourepochisabirth-time,andaperiodoftransition。Thespiritofmanhasbrokenwiththeoldorderofthingshithertoprevailing,andwiththeoldwaysofthinking,andisinthemindtoletthemallsinkintothedepthsofthepastandtosetaboutitsowntransformation。Itisindeedneveratrest,butcarriedalongthestreamofprogresseveronward。
Butitishereasinthecaseofthebirthofachild;afteralongperiodofnutritioninsilence,thecontinuityofthegradualgrowthinsize,ofquantitativechange,issuddenlycutshortbythefirstbreathdrawn-thereisabreakintheprocess,aqualitativechangeandthechildisborn。Inlikemannerthespiritofthetime,growingslowlyandquietlyripeforthenewformitistoassume,disintegratesonefragmentafteranotherofthestructureofitspreviousworld。Thatitistotteringtoitsfallisindicatedonlybysymptomshereandthere。Frivolityandagainennui,whicharespreadingintheestablishedorderofthings,theundefinedforebodingofsomethingunknown-allthesebetokenthatthereissomethingelseapproaching。Thisgradualcrumblingtopieces,whichdidnotalterthegenerallookandaspectofthewhole,isinterruptedbythesunrise,which,inaflashandatasinglestroke,bringsto-viewtheformandstructureofthenewworld。
Butthisnewworldisperfectlyrealizedjustaslittleasthenew-bornchild;anditisessentialtobearthisinmind。Itcomesonthestagetobeginwithinitsimmediacy,initsbaregenerality。A
buildingisnotfinishedwhenitsfoundationislaid;andjustaslittle,istheattainmentofageneralnotionofawholethewholeitself。Whenwewanttoseeanoakwithallitsvigouroftrunk,itsspreadingbranches,andmassoffoliage,wearenotsatisfiedtobeshownanacorninstead。Inthesamewayscience,thecrowninggloryofaspiritualworld,isnotfoundcompleteinitsinitialstages。
Thebeginningofthenewspiritistheoutcomeofawidespreadrevolutioninmanifoldformsofspiritualculture;itistherewardwhichcomesafterachequeredanddeviouscourseofdevelopment,andaftermuchstruggleandeffort。Itisawholewhich,afterrunningitscourseandlayingbareallitscontent,returnsagaintoitself;itistheresultantabstractnotionofthewhole。Buttheactualrealizationofthisabstractwholeisonlyfoundwhenthosepreviousshapesandforms,whicharenowreducedtoidealmomentsofthewhole,aredevelopedanewagain,butdevelopedandshapedwithinthisnewmedium,andwiththemeaningtheyhavetherebyacquired。
4。Theprincipleisnotthecompletion;againstformalismWhilethenewworldmakesitsfirstappearancemerelyingeneraloutline,merelyasawholelyingconcealedandhiddenwithinabareabstraction,thewealthofthebygonelife,ontheotherhand,isstillconsciouslypresentinrecollection。Consciousnessmissesinthenewformthedetailedexpanseofcontent;butstillmorethedevelopedexpressionofformbywhichdistinctionsaredefinitelydeterminedandarrangedintheirpreciserelations。Withoutthislastfeaturesciencehasnogeneralintelligibility,andhastheappearanceofbeinganesotericpossessionofafewindividuals—anesotericpossession,becauseinthefirstinstanceitisonlytheessentialprincipleornotionofscience,onlyitsinnernaturethatistobefound;andapossessionoffewindividuals,because,atitsfirstappearance,itscontentisnotelaboratedandexpandedindetail,andthusitsexistenceisturnedintosomethingparticular。Onlywhatisperfectlydeterminateinformisatthesametimeexoteric,comprehensible,andcapableofbeinglearnedandpossessedbyeverybody。Intelligibilityistheforminwhichscienceisofferedtoeveryone,andistheopenroadtoitmadeplainforall。Toreachrationalknowledgebyourintelligenceisthejustdemandofthemindwhichcomestoscience。Forintelligence,understanding(Verstand),isthinking,pureactivityoftheselfingeneral;
andwhatisintelligible(Verst?ndige)issomethingfromthefirstfamiliarandcommontothescientificandunscientificmindalike,enablingtheunscientificmindtoenterthedomainofscience。
Science,atitscommencement,whenasyetithasreachedneitherdetailedcompletenessnorperfectionofform,isexposedtoblameonthataccount。Butitwouldbeasunjusttosupposethisblametoattachtoitsessentialnature,asitisinadmissiblenottobereadytorecognizethedemandforthatfurtherdevelopmentinfullerdetail。Inthecontrastandoppositionbetweenthesetwoaspects(theinitialandthedevelopedstagesofscience)seemstoliethecriticalknotwhichscientificcultureatpresentstrugglestoloosen,andaboutwhichsofaritisnotveryclear。Onesideparadesthewealthofitsmaterialandtheintelligibilityofitsideas;theotherpourscontemptatanyrateonthelatter,andmakesaparadeoftheimmediateintuitiverationalityanddivinequalityofitscontent。Althoughthefirstisreducedtosilence,perhapsbytheinnerforceoftruthalone,perhaps,too,bythenoisyblusteroftheotherside,andeventhoughhavingregardtothereasonandnatureofthecaseitdidfeeloverborne,yetitdoesnotthereforefeelsatisfiedasregardsthosedemandsforgreaterdevelopment;forthosedemandsarejust,butstillunfulfilled。Itssilenceisdueonlyinparttothevictoryoftheotherside;itishalfduetothatwearinessandindifferencewhichareusuallytheconsequencewhenexpectationsarebeingconstantlyawakenedbypromiseswhicharenotfollowedupbyperformance。
Theothersidenodoubtattimesmakesaneasyenoughmatterofhavingavastexpanseofcontent。Theyhaulontotheirterritoryalotofmaterial,that,namely,whichisalreadyfamiliarandarrangedillorder;andsincetheyareconcernedmoreespeciallyaboutwhatisexceptional,strange,andcurious,theyseemallthemoretobeinpossessionoftherest,whichknowledgeinitsownwaywasfinishedanddonewith,aswellastohavecontroloverwhatwasunregulatedanddisorderly。HenceeverythingappearsbroughtwithinthecompassoftheAbsoluteIdea,whichseemsthustoberecognizedineverything,andtohavesucceededinbecomingasysteminextensoofscientificknowledge。Butifwelookmorecloselyatthisexpandedsystemwefindthatithasnotbeenreachedbyoneandthesameprincipletakingshapeindiverseways;itistheshapelessrepetitionofoneandthesameidea,whichisappliedinanexternalfashiontodifferentmaterial,thewearisomereiterationofitkeepingupthesemblanceofdiversity。TheIdea,whichbyitselfisnodoubtthetruth,reallynevergetsanyfartherthanjustwhereitbegan,aslongasthedevelopmentofitconsistsinnothingelsethansucharepetitionofthesameformula。Iftheknowingsubjectcarriesroundeverywheretheoneinertabstractform,takingupinexternalfashionwhatevermaterialcomeshisway,anddippingitintothiselement,thenthiscomesaboutasneartofulfillingwhatiswanted-viz。aself-originationofthewealthofdetail,andaself-determiningdistinctionofshapesandforms-asanychancefanciesaboutthecontentinquestion。Itisratheramonochromeformalism,whichonlyarrivesatdistinctioninthematterithastodealwith,becausethisisalreadypreparedandwellknown。
ThismonotonousnessandabstractuniversalityaremaintainedtobetheAbsolute。ThisformalisminsiststhattobedissatisfiedtherewitharguesanincapacitytograspthestandpointoftheAbsolute,andkeepafirmholdonit。Ifitwasoncethecasethatthebarepossibilityofthinkingofsomethinginsomeotherfashionwassufficienttorefuteagivenidea,andthenakedpossibility,thebaregeneralthought,possessedandpassedfortheentiresubstantivevalueofactualknowledge;
similarlywefindhereallthevalueascribedtothegeneralideainthisbareformwithoutconcreterealization;andweseehere,too,thestyleandmethodofspeculativecontemplationidentifiedwithdissipatingand。resolvingwhatisdeterminateanddistinct,orratherwithhurlingitdown,withoutmoreadoandwithoutanyjustification,intotheabyssofvacuity。ToconsideranyspecificfactasitisintheAbsolute,consistshereinnothingelsethansayingaboutitthat,whileitisnowdoubtlessspokenofassomethingspecific,yetintheAbsolute,intheabstractidentityA=A,thereisnosuchthingatall,foreverythingisthereallone。Topitthissingleassertion,that“intheAbsoluteallisone“,againsttheorganizedwholeofdeterminateandcompleteknowledge,orofknowledgewhichatleastaimsatanddemandscompletedevelopment-togiveoutitsAbsoluteasthenightinwhich,aswesay,allcowsareblack-thatistheveryna?vetéofemptinessofknowledge。
Theformalismwhichhasbeendeprecatedanddespisedbyrecentphilosophy,andwhichhasarisenoncemoreinphilosophyitself,willnotdisappearfromscience,eventhoughitsinadequacyisknownandfelt,tilltheknowledgeofabsoluterealityhasbecomequiteclearastowhatitsowntruenatureconsistsin。Havinginmindthatthegeneralideaofwhatistobedone,ifitprecedestheattempttocarryitout,facilitatesthecomprehensionofthisprocess,itisworthwhiletoindicateheresomeroughideaofit,withthehopeatthesametimethatthiswillgiveustheopportunitytosetasidecertainformswhosehabitualpresenceisahindranceinthewayofspeculativeknowledge。
5。Theabsoluteissubject—
Inmyview-aviewwhichthedevelopedexpositionofthesystemitselfcanalonejustify-everythingdependsongraspingandexpressingtheultimatetruthnotasSubstancebutasSubjectaswell。Atthesametimewemustnotethatconcretesubstantialityimplicatesandinvolvestheuniversalortheimmediacyofknowledgeitself,aswellasthatimmediacywhichisbeing,orimmediacyquaobjectforknowledge。IfthegenerationwhichheardGodspokenofastheOneSubstancewasshockedandrevoltedbysuchacharacterizationofhisnature,thereasonlaypartlyintheinstinctivefeelingthatinsuchaconceptionself-consciousnesswassimplysubmerged,andnotpreserved。Butpartly,again,theoppositeposition,whichmaintainsthinkingtobemerelysubjectivethinking,abstractuniversalityassuch,isexactlythesamebareuniformity,isundifferentiated,unmovedsubstantiality。Andevenif,inthethirdplace,thoughtcombineswithitselfthebeingofsubstance,andconceivesimmediacyorintuition(Anschauung)asthinking,itisstillaquestionwhetherthisintellectualintuitiondoesnotfallbackintothatinert,abstractsimplicity,andexhibitandexpoundrealityitselfinanunrealmanner。
6。—andwhatthisisThelivingsubstance,further,isthatbeingwhichistrulysubject,or,whatisthesamething,istrulyrealizedandactual(wirklich)solelyintheprocessofpositingitself,orinmediatingwithitsownselfitstransitionsfromonestateorpositiontotheopposite。Assubjectitispureandsimplenegativity,andjustonthataccountaprocessofsplittingupwhatissimpleandundifferentiated,aprocessofduplicatingandsettingfactorsinopposition,which[process]inturnisthenegationofthisindifferentdiversityandoftheoppositionoffactorsitentails。Truerealityismerelythisprocessofreinstatingself-identity,ofreflectingintoitsownselfinandfromitsother,andisnotanoriginalandprimalunityassuch,notanimmediateunityassuch。Itistheprocessofitsownbecoming,thecirclewhichpresupposesitsendasitspurpose,andhasitsendforitsbeginning;itbecomesconcreteandactualonlybybeingcarriedout,andbytheenditinvolves。
ThelifeofGodanddivineintelligence,then,can,ifwelike,bespokenofaslovedisportingwithitself;butthisideafallsintoedification,andevensinksintoinsipidity,ifitlackstheseriousness,thesuffering,thepatience,andthelabourofthenegative。Persethedivinelifeisnodoubtundisturbedidentityandonenesswithitself,whichfindsnoseriousobstacleinothernessandestrangement,andnoneinthesurmountingofthisestrangement。Butthis“perse“isabstractgenerality,whereweabstractfromitsrealnature,whichconsistsinitsbeingobjective。toitself,consciousofitselfonitsownaccount(fürsichzusein);andwhereconsequentlyweneglectaltogethertheself-movementwhichistheformalcharacterofitsactivity。Iftheformisdeclaredtocorrespondtotheessence,itisjustforthatreasonamisunderstandingtosupposethatknowledgecanbecontentwiththe“perse“,theessence,butcandowithouttheform,thattheabsoluteprinciple,orabsoluteintuition,makesthecarryingoutoftheformer,orthedevelopmentofthelatter,needless。Preciselybecausetheformisasnecessarytotheessenceastheessencetoitself,absoluterealitymustnotbeconceivedofandexpressedasessencealone,i。e。asimmediatesubstance,oraspureself-intuitionoftheDivine,butasformalso,andwiththeentirewealthofthedevelopedform。Onlythenisitgraspedandexpressedasreallyactual。