Section 170
Original German
170 B. Das Vermögen der Familie.
Die Familie hat nicht nur Eigenthum, sondern für sie als allgemeine und fortdauernde Person tritt das Bedürfniß und die Bestimmung eines bleibenden und sichern Besitzes, eines Vermögens ein. Das im abstracten Eigenthum willkührliche Moment des besondern Bedürfnisses des bloß Einzelnen und die Eigensucht der Begierde, verändert sich hier in die Sorge und den Erwerb für ein Gemeinsames, in ein Sittliches.
Einführung des festen Eigenthums erscheint mit Einführung der Ehe in den Sagen von den Stiftungen der Staaten, oder wenigstens eines geselligen gesitteten Lebens, in Verbindung. — Worin übrigens jenes Vermögen bestehe und welches die wahrhafte Weise seiner Befestigung sey, ergiebt sich in der Sphäre der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft.
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.
170 B. The Wealth of the Family.
The family not only has property, but for it, as a universal and enduring person, there arises the need and the determination of an abiding and secure possession, of wealth. The moment, arbitrary in abstract property, of the particular need of the merely single person, and the self-seeking of desire, is changed here into care and acquisition for something common, into something ethical.
The introduction of fixed property appears connected with the introduction of marriage in the legends of the founding of states, or at least of a sociable, civilized life.—In what that wealth consists, moreover, and what is the true manner of its securing, emerges in the sphere of civil society.
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.
170 B. The Family's Fortune.
The family does not merely have property. For it, as a universal and lasting person, there arises the need and the destiny of a permanent and secure possession, a fortune. In abstract property, the arbitrary element is the particular need of the merely single person, and the selfishness of desire. Here this changes into care and earning for something shared, into something ethical.
In the stories of the founding of states, or at least of a sociable, civilized life, the introduction of fixed property appears connected with the introduction of marriage. — What that fortune consists of, and what the true way of making it secure is, comes out in the sphere of civil society.
About this section
Section 170 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 172 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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