Section 12
Original German
12 Das System dieses Inhalts, wie es sich im Willen unmittelbar vorfindet, ist nur als eine Menge und Mannigfaltigkeit von Trieben, deren jeder der Meinige überhaupt neben andern, und zugleich ein Allgemeines und Unbestimmtes ist, das vielerley Gegenstände und Weisen der Befriedigung hat. Daß der Wille sich in dieser gedoppelten Unbestimmtheit die Form der Einzelnheit giebt, (§. 7.) ist er beschließend und nur als beschließender Wille überhaupt ist er wirklicher Wille.
Statt etwas beschließen, d. h. die Unbestimmtheit, in welcher der eine sowohl als der andere Inhalt zunächst nur ein möglicher ist, aufheben, hat unsre Sprache auch den Ausdruck: sich entschließen, indem die Unbestimmtheit des Willens selbst, als das Neutrale aber unendlich befruchtete, der Urkeim alles Daseyns, in sich die Bestimmungen und Zwecke enthält und sie nur aus sich hervorbringt.
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.
12 The system of this content, as it is immediately found in the will, exists only as a multitude and diversity of drives, each of which is mine in general alongside the others, and is at the same time something universal and indeterminate, having many kinds of objects and ways of satisfaction. In giving itself the form of individuality within this twofold indeterminacy (§ 7), the will resolves; and only as a resolving will in general is it actual will.
Instead of resolving upon something—that is, sublating the indeterminacy in which one content as well as another is initially only possible—our language also has the expression resolving oneself. For the indeterminacy of the will itself, as the neutral yet infinitely fertile primal germ of all existence, contains within itself the determinations and ends, and brings them forth only from itself.
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.
12 As it is immediately found in the will, the system of this content is only a collection and variety of drives. Each is mine in a general sense, alongside the others. Each is also something universal and undetermined, with many kinds of objects and ways of being satisfied. By giving itself the form of individuality within this twofold lack of determination (§ 7), the will makes a decision. Only as a will that makes decisions is it an actual will at all.
Instead of deciding something, meaning to remove the indeterminacy in which either content is at first only a possibility, our language also has the expression making up one's mind. This fits because the will's indeterminacy itself, as something neutral but infinitely fertile, the original seed of all existence, contains its determinations and purposes within itself and brings them forth only from itself.
About this section
Section 12 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 14 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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