Section 186
Original German
186 Aber das Princip der Besonderheit geht eben damit, daß es sich für sich zur Totalität entwickelt, in die Allgemeinheit über, und hat allein in dieser seine Wahrheit und das Recht seiner positiven Wirklichkeit. Diese Einheit, die wegen der Selbstständigkeit beyder Principien auf diesem Standpunkte der Entzweyung (§. 184.) nicht die sittliche Identität ist, ist eben damit nicht als Freyheit, sondern als Nothwendigkeit, daß das Besondere sich zur Form der Allgemeinheit erhebe, in dieser Form sein Bestehen suche und habe.
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.
186 But the principle of particularity, precisely by developing itself for itself into a totality, passes over into universality, and only in the latter has its truth and the right of its positive actuality. This unity—which, because both principles are independent, is not the ethical identity at this standpoint of division (§ 184.)—is therefore not freedom but necessity: namely that the particular raise itself to the form of universality, and seek and have its subsistence in this form.
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.
186 But precisely by developing on its own into a totality, the principle of particularity passes over into universality. Only in universality does it have its truth and the right to its positive actual reality. At this standpoint of division (§ 184.), both principles are independent. Their unity is therefore not ethical identity. For that very reason, this unity does not yet exist as freedom. It exists as necessity: the particular must rise to the form of universality, and must seek and find its continued existence in that form.
About this section
Section 186 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 188 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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