Section 16
Original German
16 Das im Entschluß Gewählte (§. 14.) kann der Wille eben so wieder aufgeben (§. 5.). Mit dieser Möglichkeit aber eben so über jeden andern Inhalt, den er an die Stelle setzt, und ins Unendliche fort hinauszugehen, kommt er nicht über die Endlichkeit hinaus, weil jeder solcher Inhalt ein von der Form verschiedenes, hiemit ein Endliches, und das Entgegengesetzte der Bestimmtheit, die Unbestimmtheit, — Unentschlossenheit oder Abstraction, nur das andere gleichfalls einseitige Moment ist.
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.
16 The will can equally give up again (§ 5) what it has chosen in its resolve (§ 14). Yet with this possibility of going beyond every other content it puts in that content’s place, and so on to infinity, it does not go beyond finitude. For every such content is different from the form, and therefore finite; and the opposite of determinacy, indeterminacy—irresolution or abstraction—is merely the other, equally one-sided moment.
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.
16 What the will has chosen in a decision (§ 14), it can equally give up again (§ 5). But this ability to go beyond every other content it puts in its place, and to continue doing so endlessly, does not take it beyond finitude. Every such content differs from the form and is therefore finite. And the opposite of determinacy, indeterminacy—indecision or abstraction—is only the other, equally one-sided element.
About this section
Section 16 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 18 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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