Section 179
Original German
179 Es entstehet durch diß Auseinanderfallen die Freyheit für die Willkühr der Individuen, theils überhaupt ihr Vermögen mehr nach Belieben, Meynungen und Zwecken der Einzelnheit zu verwenden, theils gleichsam einen Kreis von Freunden, Bekannten u. s. f. statt einer Familie anzusehen und diese Erklärung mit den rechtlichen Folgen der Erbschaft, in einem Testamente zu machen.
In die Bildung eines solchen Kreises, worin die sittliche Berechtigung des Willens zu einer solchen Disposition über das Vermögen läge, tritt, besonders insofern sie schon die Beziehung auf das Testiren mit sich führt, so viele Zufälligkeit, Willkühr, Absichtlichkeit für selbstsüchtige Zwecke u. s. f. ein, daß das sittliche Moment etwas sehr vages ist, und die Anerkennung der Befugniß der Willkühr, zu testiren, viel leichter für Verletzung sittlicher Verhältnisse und für niederträchtige Bemühungen und eben solche Abhängigkeiten Veranlassung wird, wie sie auch thörigter Willkühr und der Heimtücke, an die sogenannten Wohlthaten und Geschenke, die auf den Fall des Todes, in welchem mein Eigenthum ohnehin aufhört, mein zu seyn, Bedingungen der Eitelkeit und einer herrischen Quälerey zu knüpfen, Gelegenheit und Berechtigung gibt.
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.
179 Through this falling apart there arises freedom for the arbitrary choice of individuals, partly in general to use their wealth more according to the pleasure, opinions and ends of individuality, partly, as it were, to regard a circle of friends, acquaintances and so on in place of a family, and to make this declaration, with the legal consequences of inheritance, in a will.
Into the formation of such a circle, in which the ethical entitlement of the will to such a disposition over wealth would lie, there enters, especially insofar as it already carries with it the reference to making a will, so much contingency, arbitrary choice, and deliberateness for selfish ends, and so on, that the ethical moment is something very vague, and the recognition of the authority of arbitrary choice to make a will becomes far more easily an occasion for the violation of ethical relations and for base machinations and equally base dependencies, just as it also gives foolish arbitrary choice and malice opportunity and entitlement to attach conditions of vanity and of domineering torment to the so-called benefactions and gifts that are to take effect in the case of death, in which my property in any case ceases to be mine.
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.
179 This falling apart opens a freedom for the arbitrary choice of individuals. In part, they can generally use their fortune more as they please, according to the opinions and purposes of the single person. In part, they can in a way regard a circle of friends, acquaintances and so on as a family, and make this declaration, with the legal consequences of inheritance, in a will.
In forming such a circle, in which the ethical entitlement of the will to dispose of the fortune in this way would lie, there is so much accident, arbitrary choice, and calculation for selfish purposes and so on, especially where the circle already carries a view to making a will, that the ethical element is very vague. Recognizing the power of arbitrary choice to make wills much more easily becomes an occasion for violating ethical relationships, for base schemes, and for equally base dependencies. It also gives foolish arbitrary choice and malice an opportunity and a right to attach to so-called favors and gifts, which take effect on death (when my property in any case stops being mine), conditions of vanity and of domineering torment.
About this section
Section 179 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 181 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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