Section 204
Original German
204 b) Der Stand des Gewerbs hat die Formirung des Naturprodukts zu seinem Geschäfte, und ist für die Mittel seiner Subsistenz an seine Arbeit, an die Reflexion und den Verstand, so wie wesentlich an die Vermittelung mit den Bedürfnissen und den Arbeiten anderer angewiesen. Was er vor sich bringt und genießt, hat er vornemlich sich selbst, seiner eigenen Thätigkeit zu danken. — Sein Geschäft unterscheidet sich wieder, als Arbeit für einzelne Bedürfnisse in concreterer Weise, und auf Verlangen Einzelner, in den Handwerksstand, — als abstractere Gesammtmasse der Arbeit für einzelne Bedürfnisse aber eines allgemeinern Bedarfs, in den Fabrikantenstand; — und als Geschäft des Tausches der vereinzelten Mittel gegeneinander vornemlich durch das allgemeine Tauschmittel, das Geld, in welchem der abstracte Werth aller Waaren wirklich ist, — in den Handelsstand.
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.
204 b) The estate of industry has the forming of the natural product as its business, and for the means of its subsistence it is referred to its labor, to reflection and the understanding, and essentially to mediation with the needs and the labors of others. What it brings forth and enjoys, it owes principally to itself, to its own activity.—Its business in turn differentiates itself: as labor for individual needs in a more concrete manner, and at the request of individuals, into the estate of craftsmen;—as the more abstract aggregate mass of labor for individual needs, though of a more general demand, into the estate of manufacturers;—and as the business of exchange of the isolated means one against another, principally through the universal means of exchange, money, in which the abstract value of all wares is actual, into the estate of commerce.
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.
204 b) The business estate has the shaping of natural products as its occupation. For its means of livelihood, it depends on its work, on reflection and the understanding, and essentially on mediation with other people's needs and work. It has chiefly itself, its own activity, to thank for what it produces and enjoys. Its occupation divides further. As work for particular needs, done in a concrete way and at the request of individuals, it is the craft estate. As a more abstract mass of work for particular needs, but supplying a more general demand, it is the manufacturing estate. As the business of exchanging separate means with one another, chiefly through the universal medium of exchange—money, in which the abstract value of all goods is real—it is the commercial estate.
About this section
Section 204 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 206 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
Open the work page for the full contents, every edition, and the download links, or go back to Explore to browse other complete works in the European tradition. The reader keeps your place when you are signed in and lets you compare the original with each translation, one edition at a time.