Section 161
Original German
161 A. Die Ehe.
Die Ehe enthält, als das unmittelbare sittliche Verhältniß, erstens das Moment der natürlichen Lebendigkeit, und zwar als substantielles Verhältniß die Lebendigkeit in ihrer Totalität, nämlich als Wirklichkeit der Gattung und deren Prozeß (S. Encykl. der philos. Wiss. §. 167. ff. und 288. ff.) Aber im Selbstbewußtseyn wird zweitens die nur innerliche oder an sich seyende und eben damit in ihrer Existenz nur äußerliche Einheit der natürlichen Geschlechter, in eine Geistige, in selbstbewußte Liebe, umgewandelt.
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.
161 A. Marriage.
Marriage, as the immediate ethical relation, contains, first, the moment of natural vitality, and indeed, as a substantial relation, vitality in its totality, namely as the actuality of the species and its process (see Encyclopedia of the Philosophical Sciences, § 167 ff. and § 288 ff.). But in self-consciousness, secondly, the unity of the natural sexes, which is merely inward or in itself, and for that very reason merely external in its existence, is transformed into a spiritual unity, into self-conscious love.
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.
161 A. Marriage.
Marriage is the immediate ethical relation. First, it contains the moment of natural life. As a substantial relation, this is life in its totality, that is, the actual reality of the species and its process (see Encyclopedia of the Philosophical Sciences, §§ 167 ff. and 288 ff.). Second, in self-consciousness the unity of the natural sexes is merely inward, or exists only in itself, and for that very reason is only external in its existence. This unity is turned into a spiritual one, into self-conscious love.
About this section
Section 161 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 163 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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