Section 243
Original German
243 Wenn die bürgerliche Gesellschaft sich in ungehinderter Wirksamkeit befindet, so ist sie innerhalb ihrer selbst in fortschreitender Bevölkerung und Industrie begriffen. — Durch die Verallgemeinerung des Zusammenhangs der Menschen durch ihre Bedürfnisse, und der Weisen, die Mittel für diese zu bereiten und herbeyzubringen, vermehrt sich die Anhäufung der Reichthümer, denn aus dieser gedoppelten Allgemeinheit wird der größte Gewinn gezogen, — auf der einen Seite, wie auf der andern Seite die Vereinzelung und Beschränktheit der besondern Arbeit und damit die Abhängigkeit und Noth der an diese Arbeit gebundenen Classe, womit die Unfähigkeit der Empfindung und des Genusses der weitern Freyheiten und besonders der geistigen Vortheile der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft zusammenhängt.
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.
243 When civil society is in unimpeded activity, it is engaged within itself in progressive population and industry. — Through the generalization of the connection among human beings by way of their needs, and of the ways of preparing and bringing in the means to satisfy them, the accumulation of wealth increases; for the greatest gain is drawn from this twofold universality. On the one side there is this accumulation; on the other side there is the isolation and limitation of particular labor, and with it the dependence and distress of the class tied to such labor, with which is bound up the inability to feel and enjoy the further freedoms, and especially the spiritual advantages, of civil society.
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.
243 When civil society works without obstruction, it is occupied within itself with growing population and industry. — As people's connection with each other through their needs becomes more general, and so do the ways of preparing and supplying the means to meet those needs, the accumulation of wealth increases. For the greatest profit is drawn from this double universality. — On one side there is this accumulation. On the other side there is the isolation and narrowness of particular work, and with it the dependence and distress of the class tied to that work. This also brings an inability to feel and enjoy the wider freedoms, and especially the spiritual advantages, of civil society.
About this section
Section 243 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 245 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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