2。TheContradictorinessofthePerceptionof“Things”
Tobeginwith，then，Iamawareofthe“thing“asaoneandhavetokeepitfixedinthistruecharacterasone“。Ifinthecourseofperceivingsomethingcropsupcontradictingthat，thenImusttakeittobeduetomyreflection。Now，inperceptionvariousdifferentpropertiesalsoturnup，whichseemtobepropertiesofthething。Butthethinisa“one“；andweareawareinourselvesthatthisdiversity，bywhichthethingceasestobeaunity，fallsinus。Thisthing，then，is，inpointoffact，merelywhitetooureyes，alsotarttoourtongue，andalsocubicaltoourfeeling，andsoon。
Theentirediversityoftheseaspectscomesnotfromthething，butfromus；andwefindthemfallingapartthusfromoneanother，becausetheorganstheyaffectarequitedistinctinterse，theeyeisentirelydistinctfromthetongue，andsoon。Weare，consequently，theuniversalmediumwheresuchelementsgetdissociated，andexisteachbyitself。Bythefact，then，thatweregardthecharacteristicofbeingauniversalmediumasourreflection，wepreserveandmaintaintheself-samenessandtruthofthething，itsbeinga“one“。
Thesediverseaspects，whichconsciousnessputstoitssideoftheaccount，are，however，eachbyitselfjustasitappearsintheuniversalmedium，specificallydetermined。Whiteisonlyinoppositiontoblack，andsoon，andthethingisa“one“justbythefactthatitisopposedtootherthings。Itdoesnot，however，excludeothersfromitself，sofarasitis“one“；fortobe“one“istobeinauniversalrelationofselftoself，andhencebythefactofitsbeing“one“itisratherlikeall。Itisthroughthedeterminatecharacteristicthatthethingexcludesotherthings。Thingsthemselvesarethusdeterminateinandforthemselves；theyhavepropertiesbywhichtheydistinguishthemselvesfromoneanother。Sincethepropertyisthespecialandpeculiarproperty[theproperproperty]
ofthething，oraspecificcharacteristicinthethingitself，thethinghasseveralproperties。For，inthefirstplace，thethingistruebeing，isabeinginherentlyinitself；andwhatisinitissoasitsownessentialnature，andnotonaccountofotherthings。Hence，inthesecondplace，thedeterminatepropertiesarenotonaccountofotherthingsandforotherthings，butinherentinthatthingitself。
Theyare，however，determinatepropertiesinitonlybythefactthattheyareseveral，andmaintaintheirdistinctionfromoneanother。And，inthethirdself-contained，eachinandforitself，andareindifferenttooneanother。Itis，then，intruththethingitselfwhichiswhite，andalsocubical，andalsotart，，andsoon；inotherwords，thethingisthe“also“，thegeneralmedium，whereinthemanypropertiessubsistexternallytooneanother，withouttouchingoraffectingoneanother，andwithoutcancelingoneanother；and，sotaken，thethingistakenaswhatittrulyis。
Now，onthismodeofperceptionarising，consciousnessisatthesametimeawarethatitreflectsitselfalsointoitself，andthat，inperceiving，theoppositemomenttothe“also“cropsup。Thismoment，however，istheunityofthethingwithitself，aunitywhichexcludesdistinctionfromitself。
Itisconsequentlythisunitywhichconsciousnesshastotakeuponitself；forthethingassuchisthesubsistenceofmanydifferentandindependentproperties。Thuswesayofthething，“itiswhite，andalsocubical，andalsotart“，andsoon。Butsofarasitiswhiteitisnotcubical，andsofarasitiscubicalandalsowhiteitisnottart，andsoon。Puttingthesepropertiesintoa“one“belongssolelytoconsciousness，which，therefore，hastoavoidlettingthemcoincideandbeone(i。e。oneandthesameproperty)inthething。Forthatpurposeitintroducestheideaof“in-so-far“tomeetthedifficulty；andbythismeansitkeepsthequalitiesapart，andpreservesthethinginthesenseofthe“also“。Quiterightlyconsciousnessatfirstmakesitselfresponsiblefortheoneness“insuchawaythatwhatwascalledapropertyisrepresentedasbeing“freematter“(materialibera)。(3)Inthiswaythethingisraisedtothelevelofatruealso\'sinceit-thusbecomesacollectionofcomponentelements(materialsormatters)，andinsteadofbeingaone“becomesamereenclosure，acircumscribing。
Ifwelookbackonwhatconsciousnessformerlytookuponitself，andnowtakesuponitself，whatitpreviouslyascribedtothething，andnowascribestoit，weseethatconsciousnessalternatelymakesitself，aswellasthething，intobothapureatomicmany-less“one“，andan“also“resolvedintoindependentconstituentelements(materialsormatters)。Consciousnessthusfindsthroughthiscomparisonthatnotonlyitswayoftakingthetruthcontainsthediversemomentsofapprehensionandreturnuponitself，butthatthetruthitself，thething，manifestsitselfinthistwofoldmanner。Herewefind，asaresultofexperience，thatthethingexhibitsitself，inadeterminateandspecificmanner，totheconsciousnessapprehendingit，butatthesametimeisreflectedbackintoitselfoutofthatmannerofpresentingitselftoconsciousness；inotherwords，thethingcontainswithinitoppositeaspectsoftruth，atruthwhoseelementsareinantithesistooneanother。
Consciousness，then，getsawayalsofromthissecondformofperceptualprocedure，that，namely，whichtakesthethingasthetrueselfsame，anditselfasthereverse，asthefactorthatleavessamenessbehindandgoesbackintoself。Itsobjectisnowtheentireprocesswhichwaspreviouslysharedbetweentheobjectandconsciousness。Thethingisa“one“，reflectedintoself；itisforitself；butitisalsoforanother；and，further，itisanotherforitselfasitisforanother。Thethingis，hence，foritselfandalsoforanother，abeingthathasdifferenceofatwofoldkind。Butitisalso“one“。Itsbeing“one“，however，contradictsthediversityithas。Consciousnesswould，consequently，haveagaintomakeitselfanswerableforputtingthediversityintothe“one“，andwouldhavetokeepthisapartfromthething。Itwouldthusbecompelledtosaythatthething“in-so-faras“itisforitselfisnotforanother。Buttheonenessbelongstothethingitself，too，asconsciousnesshasfoundout；thethingisessentiallyreflectedintoselfThe“also“，thedistinctionofelementsindifferenttooneanother，fallsdoubtlesswithinthethingaswellasthe“oneness“，butsincebotharedifferent，theydonotfallwithinthesamething，butindifferentthings。Thecontradictionwhichisfoundinthecaseoftheobjectivecontentasawholeisassignedtoandsharedbytwoobjects。Thethingis，thus，doubtlessasitstands(anundfürsich)selfsame，butthisunitywithitselfisdisturbedbyotherthings。Inthiswaytheunityofthethingispreserved，and，atthesametime，theothernessispreservedoutsidethething，aswellasoutsideconsciousness。
Now，althoughthecontradictionintheobjectisinthiswayallottedtodifferentthings，yettheisolatedindividualthingwillstillbeaffectedwithdistinction。Thedifferentthingshaveasubsistenceontheirownaccount(fürsich)；andtheconflictbetweenthemtakesplaceonbothsidesinsuchawaythateachisnotdifferentfromitself，butonlyfromtheother。Each，however，istherebycharacterizedasasomethingdistinctive，andcontainsinitessentialdistinctionfromtheothers；butatthesametimenotinsuchawaythatthisisanoppositionwithinitsbeing；onthecontrary，itisbyitselfasimpledeterminatecharacteristicwhichconstitutesitsessentialcharacter，distinguishingitfromothers。Asamatteroffact，sincethediversityliesinit，thisdiversitydoesindeednecessarilyassumetheformofarealdistinctionofmanifoldqualitieswithinit。Butbecausethedeterminatecharacteristicgivestheessenceofthething，bywhichitisdistinguishedfromothers，andhasabeingallitsown，thisfurthermanifoldconstitutionissomethingindifferent。Thethingthusnodoubtcontainsinitsunitythequalifying“in-so-far“intwoways，whichhave，however，unequalsignificance；andbythatqualificationthisoppositenessbecomesnotarealoppositiononthepartofthethingitself，but-sofarasthethingcomesintoaconditionofoppositionthroughitsabsolutedistinction—thisoppositionbelongstothethingwithreferencetoanotherthinglyingoutsideit。
Thefurthermanifoldnessisdoubtlessnecessarilyinthethingtoo，andcannotbeleftout；butitisunessentialtothething。
Thisdeterminatecharacteristic，whichconstitutestheessentialcharacterofthethinganddistinguishesitfromallothers，isnowsodefinedthattherebythething，standsinoppositiontoothers，butmustthereinpreserveitselfforitself(fürsich)。Itis，however，athing，aself-existent“one“，onlysofarasitdoesnotstandinrelationtoothers。Forinthisrelation，theconnectionwithanotherisratherthepointemphasized，andconnectionwithanothermeansgivingupself-existence，meansceasingtohaveabeingonitsownaccount。Itispreciselythroughtheabsolutecharacteranditsoppositionthatthethingrelatesitselftoothers，andisessentiallythisprocessofrelation，andonlythis。Therelation，however，isthenegationofitsindependence，andthethingcollapsesthroughitsownessentialproperty。
Thenecessityoftheexperiencewhichconsciousnesshastogothroughinfindingthatthethingisdestroyedjustbytheverycharacteristicwhichconstitutesitsessentialnatureanditsdistinctiveexistenceonitsownaccount，may，asregardsthebareprincipleitimplies，beshortlystatedthus。
Thethingissetupashavingabeingofitsown，asexistingforitself，orasanabsolutenegationofallotherness；henceitisabsolutenegationmerelyrelatingitselftoitself。Butthiskindofnegationisthecancellingandsupersedingofitself，ormeansthatithasitsessentialrealityinanother。
Inpointoffactthedeterminationoftheobject，asit(theobject)hasturnedout，containsnothingelse。Itaimsathavinganessentialproperty，constitutingitsbareexistenceforitself，butwiththisbareself-existenceitmeansalsotoembraceandcontaindiversity，whichistobenecessary，butisatthesametimenottoconstituteitsessentialcharacteristic。Butthisisadistinctionthatonlyexistsinwords；thenonessential，whichhasallthesametobenecessary，cancelsitsownmeaning，oriswhatwehavejustcalledthenegoationofitself。
Withthisthelastqualifying“in-so-far“，whichseparatedself-existenceandexistenceforanother，dropsawayaltogether。Theobjectisreallyinoneandthesamerespecttheoppositeofitself-foritself“sofaras“itisforanother，andforanother“sofaras“itisforitself。Itisforitself，reflectedintoself，one；butallthisisassertedalongwithitsopposite，withitsbeingforanother，andforthatreasonisassertedmerelytobesuperseded。Inotherwords，thisexistenceforitselfisasmuchunessentialasthatwhichalonewasmeanttobeunessential，viz。therelationtoanother。
3。TheTransitiontoUnconditionedUniversalityandthesphereofUnderstandingBythisprocesstheobjectinitspurecharacteristics，inthosefeatureswhichweretoconstituteitsessentialnature，issuperseded，justastheobjectinitssensiblemodeofexistencebecametranscended。Frombeingsensibleitpassedintobeingauniversal；butthisuniversal，becausederivedfromsense，isessentiallyconditionedbyit，andhenceis，ingeneral，notagenuineself-identicaluniversality，butoneaffectedwithanopposition。Forthatreasonthisuniversalitybreaksupintotheextremesofsinglenessanduniversality，oftheoneofthepropertiesandthe“also“ofthefreeconstituentsormatters“。Thesepuredeterminationsappeartoexpresstheessentialnatureitself；buttheyaremerelyaself-existencewhichisfetteredatthesametimewithexistenceforanother。Since，however，bothessentiallyexistinasingleunity，wehavebeforeusnowunconditionedabsoluteuniversality；anditisherethatconsciousnessfirsttrulypassesintothesphereofUnderstanding，ofIntelligence。
Sensiblesinglenessthusdisappearsinthedialecticprocessofimmediatecertainty，andbecomesuniversality，butmerelysensuousuniversality。Thestageof“meaning“hasvanished，andperceivingtakestheobjectasitinherentlyisinitself，or，putgenerally，asauniversal。Singleness，therefore，makesitsappearancethereastruesingleness，astheinherentnatureofthe“one“，orasreflectednessintoself。Thisisstill，however，aconditionedself-existencealongsidewhichappearsanotherself-existence，theuniversalityopposedtosinglenessandconditionedbyit。Butthesetwocontradictoryextremesarenotmerelyalongsideoneanother，butwithinoneunity；or，whatisthesamething，thecommonelementofboth，self-existence，isentirelyfetteredtoitsopposite，i。e。is，atthesametime，notanexistence-for-self。Thesophistryofperceptionseekstosavethesemomentsfromtheircontradiction，triestokeepthemfixedbydistinguishingbetween“aspects“，byusingtermslike“also“and“sofaras“，andseeksinlikemannertolayholdonthetruthbydistinguishingtheunessentialelementfromanessentialnatureopposedthereto。Buttheseexpedients，insteadofkeepingawaydeceptionfromtheprocessofapprehension，proverathertobeofnoavailatall；andtherealtruth，whichshouldbegotatthroughthelogicoftheperceptualprocess，provestobeinoneandthesame“aspect“theopposite(ofwhatthoseexpedientsimply)，andconsequentlytohaveasitsessentialcontentundifferentiatedandindeterminateuniversality。
Theseemptyabstractionsof“singleness“andantithetic“univerisality“，asalsoof“essence“，thatisattendedwitha“non-essential“element，anelementwhichisallthesame“necessary“，arepowerstheinterplayofwhichconstitutesperceptualunderstanding，oftencalled“soundcommonsense“
(Menschenverstand)。This“healthycommonsense“，whichtakesitselftobethesolidsubstantialtypeofconsciouslife，is，initsprocessofperception，merelythesportoftheseabstractions；itisalwayspoorestwhereitmeanstoberichest。Inthatitistossedaboutbytheseunrealentities，bandiedfromonetotheother，andbyitssophistryendeavorstoaffirmandboldfastalternatelynowone，thentheexactopposite，itsetsitselfagainstthetruth，andimaginesphilosophyhasmerelytodowith“thingsoftheintellect“(Gedankendinge)，merelymanipulates“ideas“。Asamatteroffact，philosophydoeshavetodowiththem，too，andknowsthemtobethepureessentialentities，the，absolutepowersandultimateelements。Butindoingso，philosophyknowsthematthesametimeintheirdeterminateandspecificconstitution，andis，therefore，masteroverthem；whilethatperceptualunderstandingtakesthemfortherealtruth，andisledbythemfromonemistaketoanother。Itdoesnotgetthelengthofbeing，awarethattherearesuchsimpleessentialitiesoperatingwithinitanddominatingitsactivity；itthinksithasalwaystodowithquitesolidmaterialandcontent；justassense-certaintyisunawarethatitsessenceistheemptyabstractionofpurebeing。Butinpointoffactitistheseessentialelementsinvirtueofwhichperceptualunderstandingmakesitswayhitherandthitherthrougheverykindofmaterialandcontent；theyareitsprincipleofcoherenceandcontroloveritsvariedmaterial；theyalonearewhatconstitutesforconsciousnesstheessenceofsensuousthings，whatdeterminestheirrelationstoconsciousness；andtheyarethatinthemediumofwhichtheprocessofperceiving，withthetruthitcontains，runsitscourse。Thecourseofthisprocess，aperpetualalternatedeterminingofthetruthandsupersedingofthisdetermination，constitutes，properlyspeaking，theconstanteverydaylifeandactivityofperceptualintelligence，oftheconsciousnessthatthinksitlivesandmovesinthetruth。Inthatprocessitadvances，withouthaltorstay，tillthefinalresultisreached，whentheseessentialultimateelementsordeterminationsareallalikesuperseded；butineachparticularmomentitismerelyconsciousofonegivencharacteristicasthetruth，andthen，again，oftheopposite。Itnodoubtsuspectstheirunessentiality；and，tosavethemfromtheimpendingdanger，ittakestothesophistryofnowassertingtobetruewhatithaditselfjustaffirmedtobenottrue。Whatthenatureoftheseuntrueentitiesreallywantstoforcethisunderstandingtodo-viz。tobringtogetherandtherebycancelandtranscendtheideasaboutthat“universality“and“singleness“，aboutthat“\'essentiality“whichisnecessarilyconnectedwithan“unessentiality“andaboutan“unessential“thatisyet“necessary“—understanding“strivestoresistbyleaningforsupportonthesoqualifyingterms“in-so-far“，“adifferenceofaspect“，orbymakingitselfanswerableforoneideainordertokeeptheotherseparateandpreserveitasthetrueone。Buttheverynatureoftheseabstractionsbringsthemtogetherastheyareandoftheirownaccord。
“Soundcommonsense“isthepreyoftheseabstractions；theycarryunderstandingroundintheirwhirlingcircle。Whenunderstandingtriestogivethemtruthbyatonetimetakingtheiruntruthuponitself，whileatanotheritcallstheirdeceptivenessamereappearanceduetotheuncertaintyandunreliabilityofthings，andseparatestheessentialfromanelementwhichisnecessarytothem，andyetistobeunessential，holdingtheformertobetheirtruthasagainstthelatter:—whenunderstandingtakesthisline，itdoesnotsecurethemtheirtruth，butconvictsitselfofuntruth。
1。Cp。WissenschaftderLogik，Buch2，Absch。2，Kap。1。DasDingundseineEigenschaften，etc。
2。ThisexpressionreferstothedistinctionalreadymadeintheIntroduction，betweenthepointofviewofthePhenomenologyandthatoftheactualconsciousnesswhoseprocedureisbeinganalysedinthePhenomenology。Thatis“forus“whichwe(i。e。thephilosophical“we“)areawareofbywayofanticipation，butwhichhasnotyetbeenevolvedobjectivelyandexplicity；itisintelligible，butnotyetintellectuallyrealized。Thatis“initself“(ansich)，whichisimplicit，inherent，orpotential，andhencenotyetexplicitlydeveloped。Theterms“forus“and“initself“arethusstrictlyalternative:theformerlooksatthematterfromthepointofviewofthephilosophicalsubject，thelatterfromthepointofviewoftheobjectdiscussedbythephilosopher。Theimplicitnatureoftheobjectcanonlybe“forus“whoarethinkingabouttheobject:andwhatwehaveinmindcanonlybeimplicitlytrueoftheobject。Thealternativedisappearswhentheexplicitnatureoftheobjectiswhat“we“explicitlytaketheobjecttobe。
3。AnexpressiondrawnfromthephysicsofHegel\'sday。
III。ForceandtheUnderstanding—
TheWorldofAppearanceandtheSupersensibleWorld(1)
Consciousnesshasfound“seeing“and“hearing“，etc。，passawayinthedialecticprocessofsense-experience，andhas，atthestageofperception，arrivedatthoughtswhich，however，itbringstogetherinthefirstinstanceintheunconditioneduniversal。Thisunconditionedelement，again，ifitweretakenasinertessencebareandsimple，woulditselfbenothingelsethantheone-sidedextremeofself-existence(Fürsichseyn)；forthenon-essentialwouldthenstandoveragainstit。Butifthusrelatedtothelatter，itwouldbeitselfunessential，andconsciousnesswouldnothavegotdisentangledfromthedeceptionsofperception；whereasthisuniversalhasprovedtobeonewhichhaspassedoutofsuchconditionedseparateexistenceandreturnedintoitself。
Thisunconditioneduniversal，whichhenceforwardisthetrueobjectofconsciousness，isstillobjectofconsciousness；consciousnesshasnotyetgraspeditsprinciple，ornotion，quanotion。
Thereisanessentialdistinctionbetweenthetwowhichmustbedrawn。Ontheonehand，consciousnessisawarethattheobjecthaspassedfromitsrelationtoanotherbackintoitself，andtherebybecomeinherentlyandimplicitly(ansich)notion；but，ontheotherhand，consciousnessisnotyetthenotionexplicitlyorforitself，andconsequentlyitdoesnotknowitselfinthatreflectedobject。We(whoareanalysingexperience)foundthisobjectarisethroughtheprocessofconsciousnessinsuchawaythatconsciousnessisimplicatedandinvolvedinthedevelopmentoftheobject，andthereflectionisthesameonbothsides，i。e。thereisonlyonereflection。Butbecauseinthismovementconsciousnesshadasitscontentmerelytheobjectiveentity，andnotconsciousnessassuch，theresulthastobegivenanobjectivesignificanceforconsciousness；
consciousness，however，stillwithdrawingfromwhathasarisen，sothatthelatterinobjectiveformistheessentialrealitytoconsciousness。
Understandinghas，indeed，eoipso，doneawaywithitsownuntruthandtheuntruthinitsobject。
Whathastherebycometoviewisthenotionofthetruthasimplicitinherenttruth，whichisnotyetnotion，orlacksaconsciouslyexplicitexistenceforitself(Fürsichseyn)，andissomethingwhichunderstandingallowstohaveitswaywithoutknowingitselfinit。Itpursuesitsownnaturebyitself，sothatconsciousnesshasnoshareinitsprocessoffreerealization，butmerelylooksonandapprehendsthatrealizationasanakedfact。Itis，consequently，ourbusinessinthefirstinstancetostepintoitsplaceandbethenotion，whichworksupintoshapewhatiscontainedintheresult。
Withthiscompleteformationoftheobject，whichispresentedtoconsciousnessasabareexistentfact(einSeyendes)，mereimplicitawarenessthenfirstbecomestoitselfconceptualconsciousness，consciouscomprehension。
Theresultarrivedatwastheunconditioneduniversal，inthefirstinstanceinthenegativeandabstractsensethatconsciousnessnegateditsone-sidednotionsandabstractedthem:itsurrenderedthem。Thisresult，however，hasinherentlyapositivesignificance；ithasestablishedtheunityofexistence-for-self，andexistence-for-another；inotherwords，absoluteoppositesareimmediatelypositedasoneandthesamereality。Atfirstthisseemstoaffectmerelytheformalrelationofthemomentstooneanother。Buttobefor-selfandtobefor-anotherconstitutesthecontentitselfaswell，becausetheopposition，lookedattruly，canhavenoothernaturethanwhathascomeaboutintheresult—viz。thatthecontent，takeninperceptionfortruth，belongs，inpointoffact，solelytotheform，andisdissipatedintoitsunity。Thiscontentisatthesametimeuniversal；
therecanbenoothercontentwhichbyitspeculiarconstitutionwouldrefusetoreturnintothisunconditioneduniversality。Suchacontentwouldbesomespecificwayorotherofbeingfor-itselfandtakinguparelationtosomethingelse。Buttobeingeneralfor-selfandtostandinrelationtosomethingelseconstitutestheverynatureandmeaningofthatwhosetruthliesinbeingunconditionallyuniversal；andtheresultisthroughandthroughuniversal。
Since，however，thisunconditioneduniversalisailobjectforconsciousness，thedistinctionofformandcontentmakesitsappearancewithinit:and，intheshapeofcontent，themomentshavetheaspectinwhichtheywerefirstpresented—thatofbeingononesideauniversalmediumofmanysubstantialelements，and，ontheother，aunitreflectedintoself，wheretheirsubstantialindependenceisoverthrownanddoneawaywith。Theformerdissolvestheindependenceofthething，istheconditionofpassivitywhichconsistsinbeingsomethingforsomethingelse；thelatterisitsindividualsubsistence，itsbeingsomethingonitsownaccount(fürsich)。Wehavetoseewhatshapethesemomentstakeintheunconditioneduniversalwhichistheiressentialnature。Itisobviousattheoutsetthatbyexistingonlyinthisuniversaltheydonotatalllieanylongerapartfromoneanother，butratherareinthemselvesessentiallyself-cancellingaspects，andwhatisestablishedisonlytheirtransitionintooneanother。
1。ForceandtheplayofForcesOnemoment，then，appearsasuniversalmedium，orasthesubsistenceofindependentconstituents，astherealitythathassteppedaside。Theindependenceoftheseconstituentelements，however，isnothingelsethanthismedium；i。e。thisuniversalissimplyandentirelythepluralityofsuchdiverseuniversals。Thattheuniversalisperseinundividedunitywiththispluralitymeans，however，thattheseelementsareeachwheretheotheris；theymutuallypermeateoneanother—
withouttouchingoneanother，because，conversely，themanifolddiversityisequallyindependent。
Alongwiththat，too，goesthefactthattheyareabsolutelyperviousandporous，orarecancelledandsuperseded。Tobethussuperseded，again，orthereductionofthisdiversitytobareandsimpleself-existence，isnothingelsethanthemediumitself，andthisistheindependenceofthedifferentelements。Inotherwords，theelementssetupasindependentpassdirectlyoverintotheirunity，andtheirunitydirectlyintoitsexplicitdiversity，andthelatterbackonceagainintothereductiontounity。ThisprocessiswhatiscalledForce。Oneofitsmoments，whereforcetakestheformofadispersionoftheindependentelementseachwithabeingofitsown，istheExpressionofForce；when，however，forcetakestheformofthatwhereintheydisappearandvanish，itisForceproper，forcewithdrawnfromexpressingitselfanddrivenbackintoitself。Butinthefirstplaceforcedrivenbackintoitselfmustexpressitself；and，secondly，inthatexpressionitisstillforceexistingwithinitself，asmuchasinthusbeingwithinitselfitisexpression。
Whenwethuskeepbothmomentsinthisimmediateunity，itisUnderstanding，towhichtheconceptionofforcebelongs，thatis，properlyspeaking，theprinciplewhichcarriesthedifferentmomentsquadifferent。Forpersetheyarenottobedifferent；thedistinctionconsequentlyexistsonlyinthought。Statedotherwise，onlythemereconceptionofforcehasbeenputforwardintheabove，notitsrealization。Inpointoffact，however，forceistheunconditioneduniversal，whichisinitselfjustwhatitisforsomethingelse，orwhichholdsdifferencewithinitself—fordifferenceisnothingelsethanexistence-for-an-other。Henceforforcetobewhatittrulyis，ithastobecompletelysetfreefromthought，andputforwardasthesubstantialrealityofthesedifferences，thatis，firstthesubstancequatheentireforceremainingessentiallyself-contained(anundfürsich)，andthenitsdifferencesassubstantialentities，orasmomentssubsistingeachonitsownaccount。Forceassuch，forceasdrivenbackwithinitself，isinthiswaybyitselfanexcludingunit，forwhichtheunfoldingoftheelementsordifferencesisanotherthingsubsistingseparately；andthustherearesetuptwosides，distinctandindependent。Butforceisalsothewhole，oritremainswhat，initsveryconception，itis；thatistosay，thesedifferencesremainmereforms，superficialvanishing“moments“。Thedifferencesbetweenforceproper，withdrawnintoitself，andforceunfoldedandexpressedinindependentconstituentelements，wouldatthesametimehavenobeingatalliftheyhadnosubsistence；i。e。，forcewouldhavenobeingifitdidnotreallyexistintheseoppositeways。Buttoexistinthiswayasoppositeaspectsmeansnothingelsethanthatbothmomentsarethemselvesatthesametimeindependent。Itisthisprocesswe，havenowtodealwith—theprocessbywhichbothmomentsgetthemselvesfixedasindependentandthencanceltheirindependenceagain。
Lookedatbroadly，itismanifestthatthisprocessnothingelsethantheprocessofperceiving，wheretheaspects，bothpercipientandcontentperceived，areatonceinseparablyunitedasregardstheprocessofgraspingthetruth，andyet，bythatveryfact，eachaspectisatthesametimereflectedintoitself，issomethingonitsownaccount。Inthepresentcasethesetwoaspectsareelementsormomentsofforce；theysubsistwithinoneunity，justasmuchasthisunity，whichappearsasthemiddletermforthedistinctandindependentextremes，alwaysgetsbrokenupintotheseveryextremes，whichonlyarethroughthistakingplace。Thustheprocess，whichformerlytooktheshapeoftheself-negationofcontradictoryconceptions，hereassumesobjectiveform，andisamovementofforce，theresultofwhichistobringoutthe“unconditioneduniversal“，assomethingwhichisnotobjective—whichistheinner(unperceived)beingofthings。
Force，asthusdetermined，sinceitistakenasforce，orasreflectedintoitself，istheonesideofitsnotionandmeaning，:butasubstantiatedextreme，and，moreover，theextremeestablishedwiththespecificcharacterofoneness。Invirtueofthis，thesubsistenceofthedifferentiatedelementsfallsoutsideit，andissomethingotherthanit。Sinceofnecessityithas，tobethissubsistence，i。e。，toexpress，externalizeitself，itsexpressiontakestheformthattheotherapproachesitandincitesit。
But，inpointoffact，sinceitmustnecessarilyexpressitself，ithaswithinitselfthisother，whichtobeginwithtookupapositionassomethingoutsideit。Wemustwithdrawfromthepositionwhichsetsupforceasaone，anditsessence—self-expressions—anotherapproachingitfromoutside。
Forceisratheritselfthisuniversalmediumforthesubsistenceofthemomentsasdifferentiatedelements；or，inotherwords，ithasexpressedorexternalizeditself，andwhatwastobesomethingoutsideitattractingorincitingitisreallyforceitself。Itthusexistsnowasthemediumofthedifferentiatedelementswhichareevolved。Butallthesameitisinitsverynatureoneandsingle，andhasessentiallytheformofbeingthatinwhichthesesubsistingelementsaresuperseded。Thisonenessisinconsequencenowsomethingotherthan，externalto，force，sinceforcetakesitsplaceasthemediumfortheelementstoexistin；andforcethereforehasthisitsessentialbeingoutsideitself。Since，however，itmustofnecessitybethisessentialnature，whichasyetitisnotaffirmedtobe，thisothercomesforwardsolicitingorincitingittoreflectintoself，toturnthispseudo-externalfactorintoanaspectofitself；inotherwords，thisothercancelsitsexternalexpression。Inpointoffact，however，itisforceitselfthatisthusreflectedintoself，thatisthesublationoftheexternalexpression。Theonenessvanishesasitappeared，viz。assomethingexternal；forceisthatveryother，isforcethrustbackintoitself。
Whattookthecharacterofanexternalother，andincitedforceatoncetoexpressionandtoreturnintoself，turnsoutdirectlytobeitselfforce:fortheothershowsitselftobeuniversalmediumaswellasoneandsingle，andshowsthisinsuchawaythateachoftheformsassumedappearsatthesametimetobemerelyavanishingmoment。Consequentlyforce，inthatthereisanotherforit，anditisforanother，hasasawholenotyetdevelopeditscompletemeaning。Therearetwoforcespresentatthesametime；thenotionofbothisnodoubtthesamenotion，butithaspassedoutofitsunityintoduality。Insteadoftheoppositioncontinuingtobeentirelyandessentiallyameremoment，itappearstohaveescapedfromthecontroloftheunityandtohavebecome，owingtothisdiremption，twoquiteindependentforces。Wehavenowtoseemorepreciselywhatsortofsituationthisindependence。introduces。
Tobeginwith，thesecondforcestandstowardstheforceincitedinthecharacterofincitingforce，and，moreover，withrespecttoitscontent，playsthepartofuniversalmedium。Butsincethatsecondforceconsistsessentiallyinanalternationofthesetwomomentsandisitselfforce，itislikewise，inpointoffact，universalmediumonlythenwhenitisincitedorsolicitedtobeingso；andinthesameway，too，itisnegativeunity，orincitesandleadstotheretractionofforce，onlybybeingincitedthereto。Asaresult，thisdistinction，whichtookplacebetweenoneforceregardedasincitingandtheotherasincited，turnsalsointooneandthesamereciprocalinterchangeofcharacteristics。
Theinterplayofthetwoforcesinthiswayarisesfromandconsistsinthetwobeingthusdeterminedwithoppositecharacteristics，intheirbeingforoneanotherinvirtueofthisdeterminationandinthecompleteandexchangeoftheircharacteristics—atransitiondirectfromonetotheother，wherebyalonethesedeterminations，inwhichtheforcesseemtoappearindependently，havebeing。Forexample，theincitingforceissetupasuniversalmedium，and，ontheotherhand，theforceincitedasaforcerepressed。Buttheformerisuniversalmediumjustbytheveryfactofthelatterbeingrepressed:thatistosay，thislatterisreallywhatincitestheformer，andmakesitthemediumitclaimstobe。Theformergetsthecharacterithasonlythroughtheother，andisanincitingforceonlysofarasitisincitedbythelattertobeso。Anditlosesjustasreadilythischaractergiventoit，forthischaracterpasses，orratherhasalreadypassed，intothecharacteroftheother。Theformer，actinginanexternalway，takesthepartofuniversalmedium，butonlybyitshavingbeenincitedbytheotherforcetodoso。Thismeans，however，thatthelattergivesitthatposition，andisreallyitselfessentiallyuniversalmedium:itgivestheincitingagencythischaracterjustbecausethisothercharacterisessentiallyitsown，i。e。becauseitisreallyitsownself。
Tocompleteourinsightintotheprincipleofthisprocess，wemaynotice，further，thatthedistinctionsthemselvesrevealdistinctioninatwofoldmanner。Theyare，ontheonehand，distinctionsofcontent，sinceoneextremeisforcereflectedintoitself，whiletheotherisamediumfortheconstituentelementsinvolved:ontheotherhand，theyappearasdistinctionsofform，sinceoneincitesandtheotherisincited，theformerbeingactive，thelatterpassive。Asregardsthedistinctionofcontent，theyareinfactdistinct，，ordistinctforus[whoareanalysingtheprocess]；
asregardsdistinctionofform，however，theyareindependent，intheirrelationpartingasunderofthemselves，andstandingopposed。Intheperceptionofthemovementofforce，consciousnessbecomesawarethattheextremes，inboththeseaspects，arenothingperse，thatratherthesesides，inwhichtheirdistinctionofnaturewasmeanttoconsist，aremerelyvanishingmoments，animmediatetransitionofeachintoitsopposite。Forus，however[whoareanalysingtheprocess]，itwasalsotrue，asstatedabove，thatpersethedistinctions，quadistinctionsofcontentandform，vanished:andonthesideofform，theactive，inciting，orindependentfactorwasinitsverynaturethesameaswhat，fromthesideofcontent，waspresentedasrepressedforce，forcedrivenbackintoitself；thepassive，incited，orrelatedfactorwas，fromthesideofform，thesameaswhat，fromthesideofcontent，tookshapeasuniversalmediumforthemanyconstituentelements。
Fromthisweseethatthenotionofforcebecomesactualwhenresolvedintotwoforces，andweseetoohowit，comestobeso。Thesetwoforcesexistasindependententities:buttheirexistenceliesinamovementeachtowardseach，ofsuchakindthatinordertobe，eachhasinrealitytogetitspositionpurelythroughtheother；thatistosay，theirbeinghaspurelythesignificanceofdisappearance。Theyarenotlikeextremesthatkeeptothemselvessomethingpositivelyfixed，andmerelytransmitanexternalpropertytooneanotherthroughtheircommonmediumandbyexternalcontact:theyarewhattheyaresolelyinthismediumandintheircontactwitheachother。Wehavethereimmediatelybothforceasitisindependently，forcerepressedwithinitself，andalsoitsexpression，forceincitingandforcebeingincited。Thesemomentsarethusnotallottedtotwoindependentextremes，offeringeachotheronlyanoppositepole:rathertheirtruenatureconsistssimplyineachbeingsolelythroughtheother，andineachceasingeoipsotobewhatitthusisthroughtheother；sinceitistheother。Theyhavethus，inpointoffact，nosubstancesoftheirownwhichcouldsupportandmaintainthem。Thenotionofforcerathermaintainsitselfastheessenceinitsveryactuality:forcewhenactualexistswhollyandonlyinitsexpression；andthis，atthesametime，isnothingelsethanaprocessofcancellingitself。Thisactualforce，whenrepresentedasdetachedfromitsexpressionandexistingbyitself，isforcedrivenbackintoitself；butthisfeatureisitself，inpointoffact，asappearsfromtheforegoing，merelyamomentintheexpressionofforce。
Thetruenatureofforcethusremainsmerelythethoughtorideaofforce；themomentsinitsrealization，itssubstantialindependenceanditsprocess，rush，withoutletorhindrance，togetherintoonesingleundividedunity，aunitywhichisnotforcewithdrawnintoitself(forthisismerelyoneofthosemoments)，butisitsnotionquanotion。Therealizationofforceis，then，atthesametimedissipationorlossofreality；ithastherebybecomesomethingquitedifferent，viz。thisuniversality，whichunderstandingknowsfromthestartorimmediatelytobeitsessentialnature，andwhichshowsitself，too，tobetheessenceofitinwhatissupposedtobeitsreality，intheactualsubstances。
Sofaraswelookonthefirstuniversalasthenotionofunderstanding，whereforcedoesnotyetexistforitself，thesecondisnowitsessentialreality，asitisrevealedinandforitself。Or，conversely，ifwelookonthefirstuniversalastheimmediate，whichshouldbeanactualobjectforconsciousness，thenthissecondhasthecharacteristicofbeingthenegativeofsensuouslyobjectiveforce:itisforce，intheforminwhich，initstruebeing，forceexistsmerelyasobjectforunderstanding。Thefirstwouldbeforcewithdrawnintoitself，i。e。，forceassubstance；thesecond，however，istheinnerbeingofthingsquainner，whichisoneandthesamewiththenotionquanotion。
2。TheInnerRealmThistruebeingofthingshasherethecharacteristicthatitdoesnotexistimmediatelyforconsciousness；rather，consciousnesstakesupamediatedrelationtotheinner；intheformofunderstandingitlooksthroughtheinterveningplayofforcesintotherealandtruebackgroundofthings。Themiddletermcombiningthetwoextremes，understandingandtheinnerofthings，istheexplicitlyevolvedbeingofforce，whichisnowandhenceforthavanishingprocessforunderstandingitself。HenceitiscalledAppearance(Erscheinung)；forbeingwhichispersestraightwaynon-beingwecallashow，asemblance(Schein)。Itis，however，notmerelyashow，butappearance，atotalityofseeming(Schein)。Thistotalityastotalityoruniversaliswhatmakesuptheinnerworld，theplayofforcesinthesenseofitsreflectionintoitself。Thereconsciousnesshasbeforeitselfinobjectiveformthethingsofperceptionastheytrulyare，i。e。asmomentsturning，withouthaltorseparatesubsistence，directlyintotheiropposite，the“one“changingimmediatelyintotheuniversal，theessentialbecomingatoncesomethingunessential，andviceversa。Thisplayofforcesisconsequentlythedevelopmentofthenegative；butitstruenatureisthepositiveelement，viz。theuniversal，theimplicitobject，theobjectexistingperse。
Thebeingofthisobjectforconsciousnessismediatedthroughthemovementofappearance，bywhichthecontentofperceptionandthesensuousobjectiveworldasawhole，getmerelynegativesignificance。Thereconsciousnessisturnedbackuponitselfasthetruth；but，beingconsciousness，itagainmakesthistruthintoaninnerbeingoftheobject，anddistinguishesthisreflectionofthingsfromitsownreflectionintoself:justasthemediatingprocesslikewiseisforitstillanobjectiveprocess。Thisinnernatureisthereforeforitanextremeplacedoveragainstit。Butitisonthataccountthetruthforit，becausetherein，asinsomethingessentiallyreal，itpossessesatthesametimethecertaintyofitsownself，themomentofitsownself-existence。Butitisnotyetconsciousofthisbasis[itsself-existence]，fortheindependence，itsbeingonitsownaccount，whichshouldhavetheinnerworldwithinit，wouldbenothingelsethanthenegativeprocess。Thisnegativeprocess，however，isforconsciousnessstillobjectivevanishingappearance，andnotyetitsownproperself-existence(Fürsichseyn)。Hencethe，innerisnodoubttakentobenotion。，butconsciousnessdoesyetknowthenatureofthenotion。
(a)TheSupersensibleWorld(1)TheInner；Appearance；UnderstandingWithinthisinnertruth，thisabsoluteuniversalwhichhasgotridoftheoppositionbetweenuniversalandparticular，andbecometheobjectofunderstanding，isasupersensibleworldwhichhenceforthopensupasthetrueworld，lyingbeyondthesensuousworldwhichistheworldofappearance。
Awayremotefromthechangingvanishingpresent(Diesseits)liesthepermanentbeyond(Jenseits):animmanentinherentreality(einAnsich)，whichisthefirstandthereforeimperfectmanifestationofReason，i。e。itismerelythepureelementwherethetruthfindsitsabodeanditsessentialbeing。
Ourobjecthenceforwardhasthustheformofasyllogisticinference(Schluss)，whoseextremesaretheinnerbeingofthingsandunderstanding，anditsmiddletermthesphereofappearance。Thecourseofthisinferentialprocess，however，furnishesthefurthercharacterizationofwhatunderstandingdetectsinthe。innerworldbytheaidofthemiddleterm；andgivesrisetotheexperienceunderstandinggoesthroughregardingthisrelationofthetermswhenjoinedandunitedtogether。
Theinnerworldissofarforconsciousnessabareandsimplebeyond，becauseconsciousnessdoesnotasyetfinditselfinit。Itisempty，foritisthenothingnessofappearance，andpositivelythenakeduniversal。
Thistypeofinwardnesssuitsthosewhosaythattheinnerbeingofthingscannotbeknown；(2)butthereasonforthepositionwouldhavetobetakeninsomeothersense。Certainlythereisnoknowledgetobehadofthisinnerworld，aswehaveithere；not，however，owingtoreasonbeingtooshort-sighted，orlimited，orwhateveryoucaretocallit(onthispointthereisasyetnothingknownatthisstage；wehavenotgonedeepenoughforthatyet)，butonaccountsimplyofthenatureofthecase，becauseinthevoidthereisnothingknown，or，puttingitfromthepointofviewoftheotherside，becauseitsverycharacteristicliesinbeingbeyondconsciousness。
(2)TheSupersensibleasanAppearanceTheresultis，ofcourse，thesameifyouplaceablindmanamidthewealthofthesupersensibleworld(ifithasawealth，whetherthisbeacontentpeculiarlyitsown，orwhetherconsciousnessitselfbethiscontent)，andifyouplaceonewithsightinabsolutedarkness，or，ifyoulike，inpurelight，supposingthesupersensibleworldtobethis。Theseeingmanseesinthatpurelightaslittleasinabsolutedarkness，andjustasmuchastheblindmanintheamplewealthwhichlaybeforehim。
Iftherewerenothingmoretobedonewiththeinnersphereandwithourbeingboundupalongwithitbymeansoftheworldofappearance，thentherewouldbenothingleftbuttostopatthephenomenalworld，i。e。takesomethingfortruthaboutwhichweknowthatitisnottrue。Orinorderthattheremaybesomethinginthisemptyvoid—which，whileitoriginallycameaboutasastatedevoidofobjective，things，has，however，sinceitisemptinesspureandsimple，tobetakentobealsodevoidofallmentalrelationsanddistinctionsofconsciousnessquaconsciousness—inorderthatinthiscompletevacuity，whichisevencalledtheholyofholies，theinnersanctuary，theremayyetbesomething，weshouldbedriventofillitupwithdreamings，appearances，producedbyconsciousnessitself。Itwouldhavetobecontentwithbeingtreatedsobadly，foritwouldnotdeserveanythingbetter，sinceevendreamsaresomethingbetterthanitsownbarrenemptiness。
Theinnerworld，orthesupersensiblebeyond，has，however，arisen:itcomestousoutofthesphereofappearance，andthelatterisitsmediatingagency:inotherwords，appearanceisitsessentialnatureand，inpointoffact，itsfilling。Thesupersensibleistheestablishedtruthofthesensibleandperceptual。Thetruthofthesensibleandtheperceptuallies，however，inbeingappearance。Thesupersensibleisthenappearancequaappearance。Wedistortthepropermeaningofthis，ifwetakeittomeanthatthesupersensibleisthereforethesensibleworld，ortheworldasitisforimmediatesense-certainty，andperception。For，onthecontrary，appearanceisjustnottheworldofsense-knowledgeandperceptionaspositivelybeing，butthisworldassupersededorestablishedintruthasaninnerworld。Itisoftensaidthatthesupersensibleisnotappearance；butbyappearanceistherebymeantnotappearance，butratherthesensibleworldtakenasitselfrealactuality。
Understanding，whichisourobjecthere，findsitselfinthisposition，that，forit，theinnerworldhascomeabouttobeginwith，onlyastheimplicitinherentbeing，universalandstillwithoutafilling。Theplayofforceshassimplyandsolelythisnegativesignificanceofnotbeingsomethingperse；anditsonlypositivesignificanceisthatofbeingthemediatingagency，butoutsideunderstanding。Therelationofunderstandingtotheinnerworldthroughmediationis，however，itsownprocess，bywhichtheinnerworldwillbefoundtoreceivefullnessofcontent。
(3)LawastheTruenatureofAppearanceTheplayofforcesiswhatunderstandinghasdirectlytodowith；buttherealtruthforitistheinnerworldbareandsimple。Themovementofforceisconsequentlythetruthonlybybeinginlikemannersomethingsimple。Regardingthisplayofforces，however，wesawthatitspeculiaritylayinthis，thattheforcewhichisawakenedintoactivitybyanotherforceisjustonthataccounttheincitingagencyforthisotherforce，whichtherebyitselfonlythenbecomesanincitingforce。Wehavehereinthiswaymerelydirectandimmediateinterchangeorcompleteexchangeofthecharacteristicwhichconstitutesthesolecontentofwhatcomesbeforeus，viz。thefactofbeingeitheruniversalmediumornegativeunity。Itceasesimmediatelyonitsentranceindeterminateformtobewhatitwasonentering:itawakensorincites，byitsappearanceindeterminateshape，theotherside，whichtherebygivesitselfexpression，i。e。thelatterisnowdirectlywhatthefirstwastobe。Eachofthesetwosides，therelationofincitingandtherelationoftheopposeddeterminatecontent，isonitsownaccountanabsoluteprocessofpermutationandtransposition。Butthesetworelationsareagainthemselvesoneandthesame，andtheformaldistinctionofbeingincitedandofincitingtoactivityisthesameasthedistinctionofcontent，i。e。thedistinctionbetweentheincitedfactorassuch，viz。thepassivemedium，ontheoneside，andtheincitingfactor，viz。theactivemedium，thenegativeunity，orthe“one“ontheotherside。Inthiswaytheredisappearsalldistinctionofcontrastedandopposedparticularforces，whichweremeanttobepresentinthisprocess；fortheyrestedsolelyontheabovedistinctions。And，alongwithboththosedistinctions，thedistinctionbetweentheforcescollapseslikewiseintomerelyone。Thereisthusneitherforcenorincitingandbeingincitedtoaction，northecharacteristicofbeingastablemediumandaunityreflectedintoself，thereisneitheraparticularwhichissomethingonitsownaccount，noraretherediverseopposites。Whatisfoundinthisfluxofthoroughgoingchangeismerelydifferenceasuniversaldifference，ordifferenceintowhichthevariousoppositeshavebeenresolved。Thisdifferenceasuniversal，consequentlyiswhatconstitutestheultimatesimpleelementinthatplayofforces，andistheresultanttruthofthatprocess。ItistheLawofForce。(3)
Theabsolutefluxoftheworldofappearancepassesintobareandsimpledifferencethroughitsrelationtothesimplicityoftheinnerbeing，thesimplicityapprehendedbyunderstanding。Theinnerbeingisinthefirstinstancemerelytheimplicituniversal。Thisimplicitsimpleuniversal，however，isessentiallyabsoluteuniversaldifferenceaswell；foritistheoutcomeofthechangeitself，orchangeisitsverynature。Butchange，whenplantedintheinnerrealityasit[change]trulyis，forthwithistakenupintothatrealityasequallyabsoluteuniversaldifferenceatpeacewithitself，andremainingatonewithitself。Inotherwords，negationisanessentialmomentoftheuniversal；andnegationormediationinwhatisuniversalisuniversaldifference。Thisdifferenceisexpressedinthelaw，whichisthestablepresentmentorpictureofunstableappearance。Thesupersensibleworldisinthiswayaquiescent“kingdomoflaws“，nodoubtbeyondtheworldofperception-forthisexhibitsthelawonlythroughincessantchange—butlikewisepresentinit，anditsdirectimmovablecopyorimage。
(b)LawasDistinctionandSamenessThiskingdomoflawsisindeedthetruthforunderstanding；andthattruthfindsitscontentinthedistinctionwhichliesinthelaw。Atthesametime，however，thiskingdomoflawsisonlythepreliminarytruthanddoesnotgiveallthefullnessoftheworldofappearance。Thelawispresenttherein，butisnotalltheappearancepresent；underever-varyingcircumstancesthelawhasanever-varyingactualexistence。Therebyappearancecontinuestokeeponeaspectwhichisnotintheinnerworld；i。e。appearanceisnotyetinverytruthestablishedasappearance，asthatwhoseindependentbeinghasbeendoneawaywith。Thisdefectinthelawhastobebroughtoutinthelawitself。Whatseemsdefectiveinitisthatwhileitnodoubthasdifferencewithinit，itcontainsthisinamerelyuniversalindeterminateway。Sofar，however，asitisnotlawingeneral，butalaw，ithasdeterminatenesswithinit；andasaresulttherearefoundanindeterminatepluralityoflaws。Butthispluralityisratheritselfadefect；itcontradictstheprincipleofunderstanding，forwhich，sinceitisconsciousnessofthesimpleinnerbeing，truthistheinherentlyuniversalunity。Itmust，therefore，letthemanylawscoalesceintoasinglelaw，justas，e。g。，thelawbywhichastonefalls，andthatbywhichtheheavenlybodiesmovehavebeenconceivedasonelaw。Whenthelawsthuscoincide，however，theylosetheirspecificcharacter。Thelawbecomesmoreandmoreabstractandsuperficial，andinconsequencewefindasafact，nottheunityofthesevariousdeterminatelaws，butalawwhichleavesouttheirspecificcharacter；justastheonelaw，whichcombinesinitselfthelawsoffallingterrestrialbodies，andofthemovementsofcelestialbodies，doesnot，inpointoffact，expressbothkindsoflaws。Theunificationofalllawsinuniversalattractionexpressesnofurthercontentthanjustthebareconceptofthelawitself，aconceptwhichisthereinsetdownasexisting。Universalattractionsaysmerelythateverythinghasaconstantdistinctionforanythingelse。Understandingpretendsbythattohavefoundauniversallawwhichgivesexpressiontouniversalrealityassuch；but，inpointoffact，ithasmerelyfoundtheconceptionoflawitself，althoughinsuchawaythatitatthesametimetherebydeclaresallrealitytobeinitsverynatureconformedtolaw。Theideaofuniversalattractionhas，therefore，tothisextentgreatimportance，thatitisdirectedagainstthatunthinkingwayofrepresentingreality，towhicheverythingappearsintheshapeofaccidentandchance，andforwhichdeterminateness，specificity，takestheformofsensuousindependence。
(1)SpecificLawandGeneralLawIncontrast，then，withdeterminatelawsstandsuniversalattraction，orthebareconceptionoflaw。
Insofarasthispureconceptionislookedonastheessentiallyreal，orasthetrueinnerbeing，thedeterminatenesscharacterizingthespecificlawitselfbelongsstilltothesphereofappearance，orrathertosensibleexistence。Butthepureconceptionoflawtranscendsnotmerelythelaw，which，beingitselfadeterminatelaw，standscontrastedwithotherdeterminatelaws，butalsotranscendslawassuch。Thedeterminateness，ofwhichwespoke，isitselfstrictlyamerevanishingmomentwhichcannolongercomeforwardhereasanessentialentity(Wesenheit)，foritisonlythelawwhichisthetruthhere:buttheconceptionoflawisturnedagainstthelawitself。Thatistosay，inthelawdistinctionitselfisimmediatelyapprehendedandtakenupintotheuniversal，thereby，however，makingthemoments，whoserelationitexpresses，subsistasmutuallyindifferentandinherentlyrealentities。Thesepartsofthedistinctionfoundinthelaware，however，atthesametimethemselves。determinateaspects。Thepureconceptoflaw，asuniversalattraction，must，togetitstruesignificance，besoapprehendedthatinit，astheabsolutelysingleandsimple，thedistinctionswhicharepresentinlawassuch，returnagainthemselvesintotheinnerbeing，quabareandsimpleunity。Thisunityistheinner“necessity“ofthelaw。
(2)LawandForceThelawistherebypresentinatwofoldform。Inonecaseitisthereaslawinwhichthedifferencesareexpressedasindependentmoments；intheotheritisintheformofasimplewithdrawalintoitself，whichagaincanbecalledForce，butinthesensenotofrepressedforce[spokenofabove]，butforceingeneral，ortheconceptofforce，anabstractionwhichabsorbsthedistinctionsinvolvedinwhatattractsandisattracted。Inthissense，e。g。，simpleelectricityisforce；theexpressionofdifferencefalls，however，withinthelaw；thisdifferenceispositiveandnegativeelectricity。Inthecaseofthemotionoffallingbodiesforceisthesimpleelement，gravity，whichhasthelawthatthemagnitudesofthedifferentfactorsinthemotion，thetimespent，andthespacetraversed，aretooneanotherintherelationofrootandsquare。Electricityitselfisnotdifferenceperse，isnotinitsessentialnature。atwofoldentityconsistingofpositiveandnegativeelectricity；henceitisoftensaidithasthelawofbeingsoandsointhewayindicated，oragain，thatithasthepropertyofexpressingitselfinthisfashion。Thispropertyisdoubtlesstheessentialandpeculiarpropertyofthisforce，i。e。itbelongstoitnecessarily。Butnecessityishereanemptyphrase；forcemust，justbecauseitmust，duplicateitselfinthismanner。Ofcourse，ifpositiveelectricityisgiven，negativeelectricityisinherentlynecessary；forthepositiveelementonlyisbybeing，relatedtoanegative；inotherwords，thepositiveelementinitsveryselfinvolvesdifferencefromitself，justinthesamewayasthenegativedoes。Butthatelectricityassuchshouldbreakitselfupintopartsinthisway—thisisnotinitselfanecessity。Electricityquasimpleforceisindifferenttoitslaw—tobeintheformofpositiveandnegative；andifwecalltheformeritsnotionandthelatteritsbeing，thenitsnotionisindifferenttoitsbeing；itmerelyhasthisasaproperty，whichjustmeansthatthisisnotpersenecessarytoit。Thisindifferencetakesanotherformwhenitissaidthattobepositiveandnegativeisinvolvedinthedefinitionofelectricity，orthatthisisneithermorenorlessthanitsnotionanditsessence。Itsbeinginthatcasewouldmeanitsexistenceingeneral。Butinthatdefinitionthenecessityofitsexistenceisnotcontained；itexistseitherbecausewefindit，i。e。itsexistenceisnotnecessaryatall，orelseitexiststhroughotherforces，i。e。thenecessityofitsexistenceisanexternalnecessity。Butinthatthedeterminatenessofbeingthroughanotheriswhatthenecessityconsistsin，wearebackagaintothepluralityofdeterminatelaws，whichwehavejustleftinordertoconsiderlaw，aslaw。Itisonlywiththelatterthatwecancompareitsnotionasnotion，oritsnecessity。Thisnecessity，however，hasinalltheseformsshownitselftobejustanemptyphrase。
Thereisstillanotherwaythanthatjustindicatedinwhichtheindifferenceoflawandforce，orofnotionandbeing，isfound。Inthelawofmotion，e。g。，itisnecessaryformotiontobebrokenupintotheelementstimeandspace，oragain，intodistanceandvelocity。Sincemotionismerelytherelationofthesefactors，motion，theuniversal，hasinthiswaycertainlydistinctpartsinitsownself。Butnowtheseparts，timeandspace，ordistanceandvelocity，donotexpressinthemselvesthisoriginationfromasingleunity。Theyareindifferenttheonetotheother。Spaceisthoughtofasabletobewithout。time，timewithoutspace，anddistanceatleastwithoutvelocity—justastheirmagnitudesareindifferenttheonetotheother，sincetheyarenotrelatedlikepositiveandnegative，andconsequentlydonotrefertooneanotherbytheirverynature。Thenecessityofpartitionintodistinctfactors，then，wecertainlydohavehere；butnotthenecessityofthepartsassuchforoneanother。Onthataccount，however，thatfirstnecessitytooisitselfamerelydelusoryfalsenecessity。Formotionisnotitselfthoughtofassomethingsimpleorasbareessence，butas，fromthefirst，dividedintoelements；timeandspaceareinthemselvesitsindependentpartsoritsrealelements:inotherwords，distanceandvelocityaremodesofbeing，orwaysofthinking，eachofwhichcanverywellbewithouttheother；andmotionisconsequentlynomorethantheirsuperficialrelation，nottheirtruenature。Ifitisrepresentedassimpleessenceorasforce，motionisnodoubtgravity；butthisdoesnotcontainthesedistinctionsatall。
Thedistinctionis，then，inbothcasesnodistinctionofaninherentoressentialkind。Eithertheuniversal，force，isindifferenttothedivisionintoparts，whichisfoundinthelaw，orelsethedistinctions，thepartsofthelaw，areindifferenttooneanother。Understanding，however，doeshavethenotionofthisdistinctionperse，justbythefactthatlawisinparttheinnerbeing，theinherentnature，butisatthesametimesomethingdistinguishedwithinthenotion。Thatthisdistinctionistherebyinnerdistinctionisshownbythefactthatlawisbareandsimpleforce，oristhenotionofthatdistinction，andthusisadistinctionofthenotion。Butstillthisinnerdistinctionfallstobeginwithonlywithinunderstanding，andisnotyetestablishedinthefactitself。Itisthusonlyitsownnecessitytowhichunderstandinggivesexpression—thedistinction，thatistosay，isonewhichitmakesonlysoasatthesametimetoexpressthatthedistinctionisnottobeadistinctioninthenatureofthefactitself。Thisnecessity，whichismerelyverbal，isthusarehearsalofthemomentswhichmakeupthecycleofnecessity。Theyarenodoubtdistinct，buttheirdistinctionisatthesametimeexplicitlystatedtobenotadistinctionofthefactitself，andconsequentlyisitselfagainstraightwaycancelledandtranscended。
(3)ExplanationThisprocessiscalledExplanation。Alawisexpressed；fromthisitsinherentlyuniversalelementorgroundisdistinguishedasforce；butregardingthisdistinction，itisassertedthatitisnodistinction，ratherthatthegroundhasentirelythesameconstitutionasthelaw。Forexample，theparticularoccurrenceoflightningisapprehendedasuniversal，andthisuniversalisexpressedasthelawofelectricity；theexplanationthereuponmergesthelawinforceastheessenceofthelaw。
Thisforceis，then，soconstitutedthat，whenitfindsexpression，oppositeelectricaldischargesappear，andtheseagaindisappearintooneanother。Inotherwords，forcehasexactlythesameconstitutionaslaw；botharethusdeclaredtobeinnowaydistinct。Thedistinctionsarepureuniversalexpressionorlawandpureforce；butbothhavethesamecontent，thesameconstitutivecharacter；thusthedistinctionbetweenthemquadistinctionofcontent，i。e。offact，isalsoagainwithdrawn。
Inthistautologicalprocessunderstanding，astheaboveshows，holdsfasttothechangelessunityofitsobject，andtheprocesstakeseffectsolelywithinunderstandingitself，notintheobject。Itisanexplanationthatnotonlyexplainsnothing，butissoplainthat，whileitmakesasifitwouldsaysomethingdifferentfromwhatisalreadysaid，itreallysaysnothingatall，butmerelyrepeatsthesamethingoveragain。Sofarasthefactitselfgoes，thisprocessgivesrisetonothingnew；theprocessisonlyofaccountasaprocessofunderstanding。Init，however，wenowgetacquaintedwithjustwhatwemissedinthecaseofthelaw—absolutechangeitself:forthisprocess，whenlookedatmorenarrowly，isdirectlytheoppositeofitself。Itsetsup，thatis。adistinctionwhichisnotonlyforusnodistinction，butwhichititselfcancelsasdistinction。Thisisthesameprocessofchangewhichwasformerlymanifestedastheplayofforces。Inthelatterwefoundthedistinctionofincitingandincitedforce，orforceexpressingitself，andforcewithdrawnintoitself；buttheseweredistinctionswhichinrealitywerenodistinctions，andthereforewerealsoimmediatelycancelledagain。Wehaveherenotmerelythenakedunity，sothatnodistinctioncouldbesetupatall；theprocesswehaveisratherthis，thatadistinctioniscertainlymade，butbecauseitisnodistinction，itisagainsuperseded。
Thus，then，withtheprocessofexplaining，weseetheebbandflowofchange，whichwasformerlycharacteristicofthesphereofappearance，andlayoutsidetheinnerworld，findingitswayintotheregionofthesupersensibleitself。Ourconsciousness，however，haspassedfromtheinnerbeingasanobjectovertounderstandingontheotherside，andfindsthechangingprocessthere。
Thechangeisinthiswaynotyetaprocessofthefactitself，butratherpresentsitselfbeforeusaspurechange，justbythecontentofthemomentsofchangeremainingthesame。Since，however，thenotionquanotionofunderstandingisthesameastheinnernatureofthings，thischangebecomesforunderstandingthelawoftheinnerworld。Understandingthuslearnsthatitisalawinthesphereofappearancefordistinctionstocomeaboutwhicharenodistinctions。Inotherwords，itlearnsthatwhatisself-sameisself-repulsive，and，similarly，thatthedistinctionsareonlysuchasinrealityarenoneandcanceloneanother，orthatwhatisnotself-sameisself-attractive。Herewehaveasecondlaw，whosecontentistheoppositeofwhatformerlywascalledlaw，viz。theinvariableandunchangingself-identicaldistinction；forthisnewlawexpressesrathertheprocessoflikebecomingunlike，andunlikebecominglike。Thenotiondemandsoftheunreflectivemindtobringbothlawstogether，andbecomeconsciousoftheiropposition。Ofcoursethesecondisalsoalaw，aninnerself-identicalbeing；butitisratheraself-samenessoftheunlike，aconstancyofinconstancy。Intheplayofforcesthislawprovedtobejustthisabsolutetransitionandpurechange；theselfsame，force，splitintoanopposition，thatinthefirstinstanceappearedasasubstantialindependentdistinction，which，however，inpointoffactprovedtobenone。Foritistheselfsamewhichrepelsitselffromitself，andthiselementrepelledisinconsequenceessentiallyself-attracted，foritisthesame；thedistinctionmade，sinceitisnone，thuscancelsitselfagain。Thedistinctionishencesetforthasadistinctiononthepartofthefactitself，orasanabsolute(objective)distinction；andthisdistinctiononthepartofthefactisthusnothingbuttheselfsame，thatwhichhasrepelleditselffromitself，andconsequentlyonlysetupanoppositionwhichisnone。
Bymeansofthisprinciple，thefirstsupersensibleworld，thechangelesskingdomoflaws，theimmediateectypeandcopyoftheworldofperception，hasturnedroundintoitsopposite。Thelawwasingeneral，likeitsdifferences，self-identical；now，however，itisestablishedthateachsideis，onthecontrary，theoppositeofitself。Theself-identicalrepelsitselffromitself，andtheself-discordantsetsuptobeselfsame。Intruthonlywithadeterminationofthiskindisdistinctioninnerdistinction，orimmanentdistinction，whenthelikeisunlikeitself，andtheunlikelikeitself。
(c)TheLawofPureDistinction:theInvertedWorldThissecondsupersensibleworldisinthiswaytheinvertedworld(verkehrteWelt)，and，moreover，sinceoneaspectisalreadypresentinthefirstsupersensibleworld，theinvertedformofthisfirst。Theinnerbeingis，thereby，initscharacterofappearancecompleted。Forthefirstsupersensibleworldwasonlytheimmediateraisingoftheworldofperceptionintotheelementofuniversality。Ithasitsnecessarycounterpartinthisworldofperception，whichstillretainsasitsowntheprincipleofchangeandalteration。Thefirstkingdomoflawsdispenseswiththisprinciple，butreceivesitintheformofaninvertedworld。
Bythelawofthisinvertedworld，then，theselfsameinthefirstworldistheunlikeofitself，andtheunlikeinthefirstisequallyunliketoitself，oritbecomeslikeitself。Expressedindeterminatemoments，thiswillassumetheformthatwhatbythelawofthefirstissweet，is，inthisinner，invertedreality，sour；whatisthereblackisherewhite。What，bythelawofthefirst，wasnorthpoleinthecaseofthemagnet，is，initsothersupersensibleinnerworld(viz。intheearth)，southpole；“whilewhatwastheresouthpoleisherenorthpole。Similarly，whatbythefirstlawisinthecaseofelectricitytheoxygenpolebecomesinitsothersupersensiblerealityhydrogenpole；andconversely，whatistherethepoleofhydrogenbecomesherethepoleofoxygen。Totakeanothersphereofexperience:revengeonanenemyis，accordingtotheprimitiveimmediatelaw，thesupremesatisfactionofinjuredindividuality。Thislaw，however—thatofstandingupagainstonewhodoesnottreatmeasasubstantialself，showinghimthatIamasubstantialbeing，andevendoingawaywithhimasareality—thislawistransmutedbytheprincipleoftheotherworldintotheveryopposite，thereinstatementofmyselfasthetruerealitythroughtheremovalofthealienhostilebeingisturnedintoself-destruction。Ifnowthisinversion，whichisbroughtoutinthepunishmentofcrime，ismadeintoalaw，italsoisagainonlythelawofaworldwhichhasaninvertedsupersensuousworldstandinginantithesistoitself，wherethatwhichisdespisedintheformercomestohonour，andthatwhichintheformerishonouredmeetswithcontempt。Thepunishmentwhich，bythelawoftheformer，disgracesamanandannihilateshim，turnsroundinitsinvertedworldintothepardoninggracewhichpreserveshisbeingandbringshimtohonour。
Lookedatonthesurface，thisinvertedworldistheantithesisofthefirstinthesensethatithasthelatteroutsideitself，andrepelsthatworldfromitselfasaninvertedreality；thattheoneisthesphereofappearance，whiletheotheristheinherentbeing；thattheoneistheworldasitisforanother，theotheragaintheworldasitisforitself。Inthisway，tousethepreviousexamples，whattastessweetisproperly，orinwardlyinthething，sour；orwhatisnorthpoleinthecaseoftheactualmagnetbelongingtothesphereofappearance，wouldbe，intheinneroressentialbeing，southpole。Whatisshowntobeoxygenpoleinelectricityasaphenomenon，wouldbehydrogenpoleinthecaseofelectricitynotfailingwithinthesphereofappearance。Oragain，anactwhichinappearanceisacrimewouldinitsinnernaturebecapableofbeingreallygood—abadactmayhaveagoodintention；punishmentisonlyinappearancepunishment；initselforinanotherworlditmightwellbe，forthecriminal，abenefit。Butsuchoppositionsofinnerandouter，appearanceandsupersensible，inthesenseoftwosortsofreality，arenolongertobefoundhere。Thedifferencesrepelledarenotdividedanewandassignedtotwosubstancessuchaswouldsupportthemandlendthemaseparatesubsistence，theresultofwhichwouldbethatunderstandingwouldleavetheinnerregion，andfallbackagainonitspreviousposition。Theoneaspectorsubstancewouldbeoncemoretheworldofperception，wheretheoneofthosetwolawswouldcarryonitsexistence，andinoppositiontoitaninnerworld，justsuchasensibleworldasthefirst，butinthesphereofideas；onethatcouldnotbeindicated，seen，heard，andtastedasasensibleworld，andyetwouldbethoughtofassuchasensibleworld。Butinpointoffact，iftheoneelementsetupisaperceivedreality，anditsinherentbeing，asitsinvertedform，isatthesametimeasensuouslyrepresentedelement，thensour，whichwouldbetheinherentnatureofthesweetthing，isarealthingjustasmuchasthelatter，viz。，asourthing；black，whichwouldbetheinherentnatureofwhite，istheactualblack；thenorthpole，whichisthetruerealityofthesouthpole，isthenorthpolepresentinthesamemagnet；theoxygenpole，theinherentnatureofthepoleofhydrogen，isthegivenoxygenpoleofthesamevoltaicpile。Theactualcrime，however。findsitsinversionanditsinherentnaturequapossibility，intheintentionassuch，butnotinagoodintention；forthetruthofintentionissimplythedeeditself。Thecrime，sofarasitscontentgoes，recoilsuponitself，findsitsinversioninactualpunishment；thisisthereconciliationofthelawwiththerealitysetupagainstitincrime。
Finally，theactualpunishmentcarriesitsinvertedrealitywithitinsuchawaythatitisakindofrealizationofthelaw，wherebytheactivity，whichthelawexercisesintheformofpunishment，iscancelledintheprocess，amannerofrealizationthroughwhichthelaw，frombeingactivelyoperative，becomesagainquiescentandauthoritative，andtheconflictofindividualitywithit，andofitwithindividuality，isextinguished。
Fromtheidea，then，ofinversionwhichconstitutestheessentialnatureofoneaspectofthesupersensibleworld，wemustdissociatethesensuousideaofkeepingdistinctionssubstantivelyfixedinadifferentelementthatsustainsthem；andthisabsolutenotionofdistinctionmustbesetforthandapprehendedpurelyasinnerdistinction，self-repulsionoftheselfsameasselfsame，andlikenessoftheunlikeasunlike。Wehavetothinkpureflux，oppositionwithinoppositionitself，orContradiction。Forinthedistinction，whichisaninternaldistinction，theoppositeisnotonlyoneoftwofactors—ifso，itwouldnotbeanopposite，butabareexistent—itistheoppositeofanopposite，ortheotherisitselfdirectlyandimmediatelypresentwithinit。
NodoubtIputtheoppositehereandtheother，ofwhichitistheopposite，there；thatis，Iplacetheoppositeononeside，takingitbyitselfwithouttheother。Justonthataccount，however；sinceIhaveheretheoppositeallbyitself，itistheoppositeofitsownself，thatis，ithasinpointoffacttheotherimmediatelywithinitself。Thusthesupersensibleworld，whichistheinvertedworld，hasatthesametimereachedoutbeyondtheotherworldandhasinitselfthatother；itistoitselfconsciousofbeinginverted(fürsichverkehrte，)，i。e。itistheinvertedformofitself；itisthatworlditselfanditsoppositeinasingleunity。Onlythusisitdistinctionasinternaldistinction，ordistinctionperse；inotherwords，onlythusisitintheformofInfinity。
Bymeansofinfinityweseelawattainingtheformofinherentnecessity，andsorealizingitscompletenature；andallmomentsofthesphereofappearancearetherebytakenupintotheinnerrealm。Thatthesimpleandultimatenatureoflawisinfinitymeans，accordingtotheforegoinganalysis，(a)thatitisaself-identicalelement，which，however，isinherentlydistinction；orthatitisselfsamenesswhichrepelsitselffromitself，breaksasunderintotwofactors。Whatwascalledsimpleforceduplicatesitself，andthroughitsinfinityislaw。Itmeans(b)thatwhatisthussundered，constitutingasitdoesthepartswhicharethoughtofasinthelaw，putsitselfforwardassubsisting，asstable；and，ifthepartsareconsideredwithouttheconceptionofinternaldistinction，thenspaceandtime，ordistanceandvelocity，whichappearasmomentsofgravity，arejustasmuchindifferentandwithoutnecessaryrelationtooneanotherastogravityitself，oragainasthisbaregravityisindifferenttothem，orassimpleelectricityisindifferenttopositiveandnegative。But(c)
bythisconceptionofinternaldistinction，thisunlikeandindifferentfactor，spaceandtime，etc。，becomesadistinction，whichisnodistinction，ormerelyadistinctionofwhatisselfsame，anditsessenceisunity。Theyarereciprocallyawakenedintoactivityaspositiveandnegativebyeachother，andtheirbeingliesratherintheirputtingthemselvesasnot-being，andcancellingthemselvesinthecommonunity。Boththefactorsdistinguishedsubsist；theyareperse，andtheyareperseasopposites，thatisaretheoppositesofthemselves；theyhavetheirantithesiswithinthem，andaremerelyonesingleunity。
Thisbareandsimpleinfinity，ortheabsolutenotion，maybecalledtheultimatenatureoflife，thesouloftheworld，theuniversallife-blood，whichcourseseverywhere，andwhoseflowisneitherdisturbednorcheckedbyanyobstructingdistinction，butisitselfeverydistinctionthatarises，aswellasthatintowhichalldistinctionsaredissolved；pulsatingwithinitself，butevermotionless，shakentoitsdepths，butstillatrest。Itisself-identical，forthedistinctionsaretautological；theyaredistinctionsthatarenone。Thisself-identicalrealitystands，therefore，inrelationsolelytoitself。Toitself；whichmeansthisisanother，towhichtherelationpoints；andrelationtoitselfis，morestrictly，breakingasunder；inotherwords，thatveryself-identityisinternaldistinction。Thesesunderedfactorshave，hence，eachaseparatebeingoftheirown；eachisanopposite-ofanother；
andthuswitheachtheotheristhereinipsofactoexpresslygiven；oritisnottheoppositeofanother，butonlythepureopposite；andthuseachis，therefore，initselftheoppositeofitself。Or，again，eachisnotanoppositeatall，butexistspurelyforitself，apureself-identicalreality，withnodistinctioninit。Thisbeingso，wedonotneedtoask，stilllesstotreatanxietyoversuchaquestionasphilosophy，—orevenregardthisasaquestionphilosophycannotanswer，—“howdistinctionorothernessistocomeoutofthispureessence，howthesearetobereallygotoutofit“。Fortheprocessofdisruptionhasalreadytakenplace；distinctionhasbeenexcludedfromtheself-identicalentity，andputononesidesofarasitisconcerned；whatwastohavebeentheself-identicalisthusalreadyoneofthesunderedelements，insteadofbeingtheabsoluteessentialreality。Thattheself-identicalbreaksasundermeans，therefore，justastrulythatitsupersedesitselfasalreadysundered，thatitcancelsitselfquaotherness。Theunitywhichpeopleusuallyhaveinmindwhentheysaydistinctioncannotcomeoutofunity，is，inpointoffact，itselfmerelyonemomentoftheprocessofdisruption；itistheabstractionofsimplicity，whichstandsincontrastwithdistinction。
Butinthatitisabstraction，ismerelyoneofthetwoopposedelements，thestatementthusalreadyimpliesthattheunityistheprocessofbreakingasunder；foriftheunityisanegativeelement，anopposite，thenitisputforwardpreciselyasthatwhichcontainsoppositionwithinit。Thedifferentaspectsofdiremptionandofbecomingself-identicalarethereforelikewisemerelythisprocessofself-cancelling。Forsincetheself-identicalelement，whichshouldfirstdivideitselfasunderorpassintoitsopposite，isanabstraction，i。e。isalreadyitselfasunderedelement，itsdiremptioniseoipsoacancellingofwhatitis，andthusthecancellingofitsbeingsundered。Theprocessofbecomingself-identicalislikewiseaprocessofdiremption；whatbecomesidenticalwithitselftherebyopposesitselftodisruption，thatis，itselftherebyputsitselfononeside；inotherwords，itbecomesreallysomethingsundered。
3。InfinitudeInfinitude，thisabsoluteunrestofpureself-movement，suchthatwhateverisdeterminedinanyway，e。g。，asbeing，isreallytheoppositeofthisdeterminateness—hasfromthestartbeennodoubttheverysoulofallthathasgonebefore；butitisintheinnerworldthatithasfirstcomeoutexplicitlyanddefinitely。Theworldofappearance，ortheplayofforces，alreadyshowsitsoperation；butitisinthefirstinstanceasExplanationthatitcomesopenlyforward。Andsinceitisatlengthanobjectforconsciousness，andconsciousnessisawareofitaswhatitis，consciousnessisinthiswaySelf-consciousness。Understanding\'sfunctionofexplainingfurnishesinthefirstinstancemerelythedescriptionofwhatself-consciousnessis。UnderstandingcancelsthedistinctionspresentinLaw，distinctionswhichhavealreadybecomepuredistinctionsbutarestillindifferent，andputstheminsideasingleunity，Force。Thisidentification，however，isatthesametimeandimmediatelyaprocessofdiremption；forunderstandingremovesthedistinctionsandsetsuptheonenessofforceonlybythefactthatitcreatesanewdistinctionofforceandlaw，whichatthesametime，however，isnodistinction。Andmoreoverinthatthisdistinctionisatthesametimenodistinction，itproceedsfurtherandcancelsthisdistinctionagain，sinceitletsforcehavejustthesameconstitutionaslaw。Thisprocessornecessityis，however，inthisform，stillanecessityandaprocessofunderstanding，ortheprocessassuchisnottheobjectofunderstanding；instead，understandinghasasitsobjectsinthatprocesspositiveandnegativeelectricity，distance，velocity，forceofattraction，andathousandotherthings—objectswhichmakeupthecontentofthemomentsoftheprocess。Itisjustforthatreasonthatthereissomuchsatisfactioninexplanation，becauseconsciousnessbeingthere，ifwemayusesuchanexpression，indirectcommunionwithitself，enjoysitselfonly。Nodoubtitthereseemstobeoccupiedwithsomethingelse，butinpointoffactitisbusiedallthewhilemerelywithitself。
Intheoppositelaw，astheinversionofthefirstlaw，orininternaldistinction，infinitudedoubtlessbecomesitselfobjectofunderstanding。Butoncemoreunderstandingfailstodojusticetoinfinityassuch，sinceunderstandingassignsagaintotwoworlds，ortotwosubstantialelements，thatwhichisdistinctionperse—theself-repulsionoftheselfsame，andtheself-attractionofunlikefactors。Tounderstandingtheprocess，asitisfoundinexperience，ishereaneventthathappens，andtheselfsameandtheunlikearepredicates，whoserealityisanunderlyingsubstratum。Whatisforunderstandinganobjectinacoveringveilofsense，nowcomesbeforeusinitsessentialformasapurenotion。Thisapprehensionofdistinctionasittrulyis，theapprehensionofinfinitudeassuch，issomethingforus[observingthecourseoftheprocess]，orisimplicit，immanent。Theexpositionofitsnotionbelongstoscience。Consciousness，however，inthewayitimmediatelyhasthisnotion，againappearsasapeculiarformornewattitudeofconsciousness，whichdoesnotrecognizeitsownessentialnatureinwhathasgonebefore，butlooksuponitassomethingquitedifferent。
Inthatthisnotionofinfinitudeisitsobject，itisthusaconsciousnessofthedistinctionasonewhichatthesametimeisatoncecancelled。Consciousnessisforitselfandonitsownaccount，itisadistinguishingofwhatisundistinguished，itisSelf-consciousness。Idistinguishmyselffrommyself；
andthereinIamimmediatelyawarethatthisfactordistinguishedfrommeisnotdistinguished。I，theselfsamebeing，thrustmyselfawayfrommyself；butthiswhichisdistinguished，whichissetupasunlikeme，isimmediatelyonitsbeingdistinguishednodistinctionforme。Consciousnessofanother，ofanobjectingeneral，isindeeditselfnecessarilyself-consciousness，reflectednessintoself，consciousnessofselfinitsotherness。Thenecessaryadvancefromthepreviousattitudesofconsciousness，whichfoundtheirtruecontenttobeathing，somethingotherthanthemselves，bringstolightthisveryfactthatnotmerelyisconsciousnessofathingonlypossibleforaself-consciousness，butthatthisself-consciousnessaloneisthetruthofthoseattitudes。Butitisonlyforus(whotracethisprocess]thatthistruthisactuallypresent；itisnotyetsofortheconsciousnessimmersedintheexperience。Self-consciousnesshasinthefirstinstancebecomeaspecificrealityonitsownaccount(fürsich)，hascomeintobeingforitself；itisnotyetintheformofunitywithconsciousnessingeneral。
Weseethatintheinnerbeingofthesphereofappearance，understandinggetstoknowintruthnothingelsebutappearanceitself，not，however，appearanceintheshapeofaplayofforces，butthatplayofforcesinitsabsolutelyuniversalmomentsandintheprocessofthosemoments；infact，understandingmerelyexperiencesitself。Raisedaboveperception，consciousnessrevealsitselfunitedandboundupwiththesupersensibleworldthroughthemediatingagencyoftherealmofappearance，throughwhichitgazesintothisbackgroundthatliesbehindappearance。Thetwoextremes，theonethatofthepureinnerregion，theotherthatoftheinnerbeinggazingintothispureinnerregion，arenowmergedtogether；andastheyhavedisappearedquaextremes，themiddleterm，themediatingagency，quasomethingotherthantheseextremes，hasalsovanished。
Thiscurtain[ofappearance]，therefore，hangingbeforetheinnerworldiswithdrawn，andwehaveheretheinnerbeing[theego]gazingintotheinnerrealm—thevisionoftheundistinguishedselfsamereality，whichrepelsitselffromitself，affirmsitselfasadividedanddistinguishedinnerreality，butasoneforwhichatthesametimethetwofactorshaveimmediatelynodistinction；whatwehavehereisSelf-consciousness。Itismanifestthatbehindtheso-calledcurtain，whichistohidetheinnerworld，thereisnothingtobeseenunlessweourselvesgobehindthere，asmuchinorderthatwemaytherebysee，asthattheremaybesomethingbehindtherewhichcanbeseen。Butitisclearatthesametimethatwecannotwithoutmoreadogostraightwaybehindthere。Forthisknowledgeofwhatisthetruthoftheideaoftherealmofappearanceandofitsinnerbeing，isitselfonlyaresultarrivedatafteralonganddeviousprocess，，inthecourseofwhichthemodesofconsciousness，“meaning“，“perception“，and“understanding“disappear。Anditwillbeequallyevidentthattogetacquaintedwithwhatconsciousnessknowswhenitisknowingitself，requiresustofetchastillwidercompass，Whatfollowswillsetthisforthatlength。
1。Cp。WissenschaftderLogik，Buch2，Absch。2，Kap。3。
2。Cp。Goethe，“IminnernderNatur“，etc。
3。Cp。Helmholtz，“Itispreciselyinthepurestformoftheexpressionofforce-viz。Inmechanicalforcewhichactsonamass-point-thatwefindmostclearlybroughtoutthataforceismerelytheobjectifiedlawofaction。”-LecturesandAddresses，v。，Eng。，trans。，Vol。I。，p。326。
4。Theprimitiveprocedureofindividualvengeancefindsitsinnermeaningrevealedintheethicallyjustifiableprocedureofpunishment。Butethicalpunishmentisreallyself-punishment(cp。Plato\'sGorgias)。Punishment，however，Hegelgoesontosay，hasaninnermeaningofitsowntoo。
B—
SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS(1)
