Section 176
Original German
176 Weil die Ehe nur erst die unmittelbare sittliche Idee ist, hiermit ihre objective Wirklichkeit in der Innigkeit der subjectiven Gesinnung und Empfindung hat, so liegt darin die erste Zufälligkeit ihrer Existenz. So wenig ein Zwang stattfinden kann, in die Ehe zu treten, so wenig giebt es sonst ein nur rechtliches positives Band, das die Subjecte bei entstandenen widrigen und feindseligen Gesinnungen und Handlungen zusammen zu halten vermögte. Es ist aber eine dritte sittliche Autorität gefodert, welche das Recht der Ehe, der sittlichen Substantialität, gegen die bloße Meynung von solcher Gesinnung und gegen die Zufälligkeit bloß temporärer Stimmung u. s. f. festhält, diese von der totalen Entfremdung unterscheidet, und die letztere constatirt, um erst in diesem Falle die Ehe scheiden zu können.
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.
176 Because marriage is as yet only the immediate ethical idea, and hence has its objective actuality in the intimacy of subjective disposition and feeling, the first contingency of its existence lies therein. Just as there can be no compulsion to enter into marriage, so there is otherwise no merely legal positive bond that could hold the subjects together when hostile and adverse dispositions and actions have arisen. But a third ethical authority is required, which maintains the right of marriage, of ethical substantiality, against the mere opinion of such a disposition and against the contingency of merely temporary mood, and so on, distinguishes these from total estrangement, and establishes the latter, in order only in this case to be able to dissolve the marriage.
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.
176 Marriage is at first only the immediate ethical idea, and so has its objective actual reality in the inwardness of subjective attitude and feeling. This is the first accident in its existence. No one can be forced to enter a marriage, and in the same way there is no merely legal, positive bond that could hold the partners together once hostile and opposed attitudes and actions have arisen. But a third ethical authority is required. It must uphold the right of marriage, of ethical substance, against the mere opinion that such an attitude exists, and against the accident of a merely temporary mood and so on. It must tell this apart from total estrangement, and establish that estrangement, so that only in this case can the marriage be dissolved.
About this section
Section 176 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 178 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.