Section 17
Original German
17 Der Widerspruch, welcher die Willkühr ist (§. 15.) hat als Dialektik der Triebe und Neigungen die Erscheinung, daß sie sich gegenseitig stören, die Befriedigung des einen die Unterordnung oder Aufopferung der Befriedigung des andern fodert u. s. f. und indem der Trieb nur einfache Richtung seiner Bestimmtheit ist, das Maß somit nicht in sich selbst hat, so ist dieß unterordnende oder aufopfernde Bestimmen das zufällige Entscheiden der Willkühr, sie verfahre nun dabey mit berechnendem Verstande, bey welchem Triebe mehr Befriedigung zu gewinnen sey, oder nach welcher andern beliebigen Rücksicht.
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.
17 The contradiction that constitutes arbitrary choice (§ 15) appears, as the dialectic of drives and inclinations, in their interference with one another: satisfying one demands that the satisfaction of another be subordinated or sacrificed, and so on. And since a drive is merely the single direction of its own determinacy, and therefore has no measure within itself, this determination that subordinates or sacrifices is the contingent decision of arbitrary choice—whether it proceeds by calculating with the understanding which drive will yield greater satisfaction, or by any other consideration it pleases.
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.
17 The contradiction that arbitrary choice is (§ 15) appears as the dialectic of drives and inclinations. They interfere with one another: satisfying one demands subordinating or sacrificing the satisfaction of another, and so on. A drive is only the simple movement in the direction set by its particular character; it therefore has no measure within itself. So the determination that subordinates or sacrifices a satisfaction is arbitrary choice's contingent decision. This is true whether it proceeds with a calculating understanding of which drive offers more satisfaction, or on any other chosen consideration.
About this section
Section 17 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 19 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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