Mouseiaan open library of the ancient world

Section 133

135 of 362 sections in Elements of the Philosophy of Right by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Original German

133 Das Gute hat zu dem besondern Subjecte das Verhältniß, das Wesentliche seines Willens zu seyn, der hiemit darin schlechthin seine Verpflichtung hat. Indem die Besonderheit von dem Guten unterschieden ist und in den subjectiven Willen fällt, so hat das Gute zunächst nur die Bestimmung der allgemeinen abstracten Wesentlichkeit, — der Pflicht; — um dieser ihrer Bestimmung willen soll die Pflicht um der Pflicht willen gethan werden.

Musean translation

Machine-assisted Musean translation made directly from Hegel's German in the Berlin Nicolai first edition, dated 1821. Complete preface, introduction and sections 1–360, including the author's remarks and notes; no later Gans additions.

133 The good has to the particular subject the relation of being the essential element of his will, which therefore has in it absolutely its obligation. Since particularity is distinct from the good and falls within the subjective will, the good has at first only the determination of universal abstract essentiality — of duty; — on account of this its determination, duty is to be done for duty's sake.

Plain English translation

Independent machine-assisted Plain English translation made directly from the German first-edition source, not from the Musean edition or an existing English translation. Complete preface, introduction and sections 1–360 with the author's remarks and notes.

133 The relation of the good to the particular subject is that the good is the essential thing of its will, which therefore has its obligation absolutely in the good. Since particularity is distinguished from the good and falls within the subjective will, the good at first has only the character of universal, abstract essentiality, which is duty. Because of this character, duty should be done for duty's sake.

About this section

Section 133 is part of Elements of the Philosophy of Right by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. This page sets the German original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is section 135 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.

Open the work page for the full contents, every edition, and the download links, or go back to Explore to browse other complete works in the European tradition. The reader keeps your place when you are signed in and lets you compare the original with each translation, one edition at a time.

Download the complete work as JSON · Retex Markdown