Section 18
Original German
18 In Ansehung der Beurtheilung der Triebe hat die Dialektik die Erscheinung, daß als immanent, somit positiv, die Bestimmungen des unmittelbaren Willens gut sind; der Mensch heißt so von Natur gut. Insofern sie aber Naturbestimmungen, also der Freyheit und dem Begriffe des Geistes überhaupt entgegen und das Negative sind, sind sie auszurotten; der Mensch heißt so von Natur böse. Das Entscheidende für die eine oder die andere Behauptung ist auf diesem Standpuncte gleichfalls die subjective Willkühr.
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.
18 With regard to the assessment of drives, the dialectic appears in this way: as immanent and therefore positive, the determinations of the immediate will are good; in this sense the human being is said to be good by nature. But insofar as they are natural determinations, and thus opposed to freedom and to the concept of spirit in general, and are the negative, they must be rooted out; in this sense the human being is said to be evil by nature. At this standpoint, what decides in favor of either assertion is likewise subjective arbitrary choice.
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.
18 When it comes to judging the drives, this dialectic appears in the following way. As inherent and therefore positive, the determinations of the immediate will are good: human beings are thus said to be good by nature. But insofar as these are natural determinations, opposed to freedom and to the concept of spirit in general, and are the negative, they must be rooted out: human beings are thus said to be evil by nature. At this standpoint, what decides for either claim is again subjective arbitrary choice.
About this section
Section 18 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 20 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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