Section 189
Original German
A. Das System der Bedürfnisse.
189 Die Besonderheit zunächst als das gegen das Allgemeine des Willens überhaupt Bestimmte (§. 60.) ist subjectives Bedürfniß, welches seine Objectivität d. i. Befriedigung durch das Mittel α) äußerer Dinge, die nun ebenso das Eigenthum und Product anderer Bedürfnisse und Willen sind, und β) durch die Thätigkeit und Arbeit, als das die beyden Seiten Vermittelnde erlangt. Indem sein Zweck die Befriedigung der subjectiven Besonderheit ist, aber in der Beziehung auf die Bedürfnisse und die freye Willkühr Anderer die Allgemeinheit sich geltend macht, so ist dieß Scheinen der Vernünftigkeit in diese Sphäre der Endlichkeit der Verstand die Seite, auf die es in der Betrachtung ankommt, und welche das Versöhnende innerhalb dieser Sphäre selbst ausmacht.
Die Staats-Oekonomie ist die Wissenschaft, die von diesen Gesichtspunkten ihren Ausgang hat, dann aber das Verhältniß und die Bewegung der Massen in ihrer qualitativen und quantitativen Bestimmtheit und Verwickelung darzulegen hat. — Es ist dieß eine der Wissenschaften, die in neuerer Zeit als ihrem Boden entstanden ist. Ihre Entwickelung zeigt das Interessante, wie der Gedanke (s. Smith, Say, Ricardo) aus der unendlichen Menge von Einzelnheiten, die zunächst vor ihm liegen, die einfachen Principien der Sache, den in ihr wirksamen und sie regierenden Verstand herausfindet. — Wie es einerseits das Versöhnende ist, in der Sphäre der Bedürfnisse dieß in der Sache liegende und sich bethätigende Scheinen der Vernünftigkeit zu erkennen, so ist umgekehrt dieß das Feld, wo der Verstand der subjectiven Zwecke und moralischen Meynungen seine Unzufriedenheit und moralische Verdießlichkeit ausläßt. —
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.
A. The System of Needs
189 Particularity, taken in the first instance as what is determined over against the universal of the will as such (§ 60.), is subjective need, which attains its objectivity, that is, its satisfaction, by means of α) external things, which are now equally the property and product of other needs and wills, and β) activity and labor, as that which mediates the two sides. Since its purpose is the satisfaction of subjective particularity, but in the relation to the needs and the free arbitrary choice of others universality asserts itself, it is this appearing of rationality into this sphere of finitude—the understanding—that is the side on which everything depends in the consideration of it, and which constitutes the reconciling element within this sphere itself.
Political economy is the science that sets out from these viewpoints, but must then exhibit the relation and movement of the masses in their qualitative and quantitative determinateness and entanglement.—It is one of the sciences that arose on the soil of modern times. Its development shows the interesting spectacle of how thought (see Smith, Say, Ricardo) discovers, out of the infinite multitude of particulars that initially lie before it, the simple principles of the matter, the understanding that is effective within it and governs it.—Just as, on the one side, it is the reconciling element to recognize in the sphere of needs this appearing of rationality that lies in the matter itself and is active there, so conversely this is the field in which the understanding of subjective purposes and moral opinions vents its discontent and moral peevishness.—
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.
A. The System of Needs
189 Particularity, initially defined in contrast to the universal element of the will in general (§ 60.), is subjective need. It gains its objectivity—that is, its satisfaction—through α) external things, which are now also the property and product of other people's needs and wills, and β) activity and work, which mediate between the two sides. Its end is the satisfaction of subjective particularity. But universality asserts itself in the relationship to the needs and free choices of others. So in this sphere of finitude, this appearance of rationality is the understanding. It is the aspect that matters for our examination, and it provides reconciliation within this sphere itself.
Political economy is the science that starts from these points of view. It must then explain the relationships and movements of masses in their qualitative and quantitative features and interconnection. This is one of the sciences that has grown out of modern times. Its development is interesting in the way thought (see Smith, Say, Ricardo) discovers, from the endless multitude of details initially before it, the simple principles of the subject: the understanding that works within it and governs it. On one side, there is something reconciling in recognizing, in the sphere of needs, this appearance of rationality inherent and active in the subject itself. But conversely, this is the field in which the understanding guided by subjective ends and moral opinions lets loose its dissatisfaction and moral irritation.
About this section
Section 189 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 191 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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