Section 247
Original German
247 Wie für das Princip des Familienlebens die Erde, fester Grund und Boden, Bedingung ist, so ist für die Industrie das nach Außen sie belebende natürliche Element, das Meer. In der Sucht des Erwerbs, dadurch, daß sie ihn der Gefahr aussetzt, erhebt sie sich zugleich über ihn und versetzt das Festwerden an der Erdscholle und den begränzten Kreisen des bürgerlichen Lebens, seine Genüsse und Begierden, mit dem Elemente der Flüssigkeit, der Gefahr und des Unterganges. So bringt sie ferner durch diß größte Medium der Verbindung entfernte Länder in die Beziehung des Verkehrs, eines den Vertrag einführenden rechtlichen Verhältnisses, in welchem Verkehr sich zugleich das größte Bildungsmittel, und der Handel seine welthistorische Bedeutung findet.
Daß die Flüsse keine natürliche Grenzen sind, für welche sie in neuern Zeiten haben sollen geltend gemacht werden, sondern sie und ebenso die Meere vielmehr die Menschen verbinden, daß es ein unrichtiger Gedanke ist, wenn Horaz sagt (Carm. I. 3.): — — deus abscidit Prudens Oceano dissociabili Terras, — — zeigen nicht nur die Bassins der Flüsse, die von einem Stamme oder Volke bewohnt werden, sondern auch z. B. die sonstigen Verhältnisse Griechenlands, Joniens und Großgriechenlands, — Bretagne's und Brittaniens, Dänemarks und Norwegens, Schwedens, Finnlands, Livlands u. s. f., — vornemlich auch im Gegensatze des geringern Zusammenhangs der Bewohner des Küstenlandes mit denen des innern Landes. — Welches Bildungsmittel aber in dem Zusammenhange mit dem Meere liegt, dafür vergleiche man das Verhältniß der Nationen, in welchen der Kunstfleiß aufgeblüht ist, zum Meere, mit denen, die sich die Schiffahrt untersagt, und wie die Egypter, die Indier, in sich verdumpft und in den fürchterlichsten und schmählichsten Aberglauben versunken sind, und wie alle große, in sich strebende Nationen sich zum Meere drängen.
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.
247 As the earth, firm ground and soil, is the condition for the principle of family life, so for industry the natural element that animates it outwardly is the sea. In the passion for gain, by exposing it to danger, industry at the same time rises above gain, and exchanges attachment to the clod of earth and the bounded circles of civil life, with its enjoyments and desires, for the element of fluidity, danger and ruin. Thus, through this greatest medium of connection, it also brings distant lands into the relation of commerce, a legal relation that introduces contract, and in this commerce is found at once the greatest means of education and the world-historical significance of trade.
That rivers are not natural boundaries, as in modern times they have been claimed to be, but that they, and the seas likewise, rather connect human beings; that it is a mistaken thought when Horace says (Carm. I. 3.): — — deus abscidit Prudens Oceano dissociabili Terras, — — ("a god in his providence cut the lands off by the sundering ocean") is shown not only by the basins of rivers, which are inhabited by one tribe or people, but also, for example, by the other relations of Greece, Ionia and Magna Graecia, of Brittany and Britain, of Denmark and Norway, Sweden, Finland, Livonia, and so on, — and especially also in contrast with the slighter connection between the inhabitants of the coast and those of the interior. — But as to what means of education lies in the connection with the sea, compare the relation to the sea of the nations in which industrious skill has flourished with that of those which have forbidden themselves navigation, and which, like the Egyptians and the Indians, have become stagnant and dull within themselves and sunk into the most dreadful and shameful superstition; and observe how all great nations striving within themselves press toward the sea.
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.
247 The earth, solid ground, is the condition for the principle of family life. In the same way the sea is the natural element that gives life to industry in its outward reach. In the passion for gain, industry exposes gain to danger. By doing so it rises above gain, and it mixes being fixed to the clod of earth and to the limited circles of civil life, with their enjoyments and desires, with the element of fluidity, danger, and destruction. In this way, through this greatest medium of connection, industry also brings distant countries into trade. Trade is a relation of right that brings in the contract. In this trade the greatest means of education is also found, and commerce finds its significance for world history.
Rivers are not natural boundaries, though in modern times they have been claimed to be. Rivers, like seas, rather connect people. It is a mistaken thought when Horace says (Carm. I. 3.): — — "a god in his wisdom cut off the lands with the separating Ocean." This is shown not only by the river basins that are inhabited by one tribe or people. It is shown also, for example, by the other circumstances of Greece, Ionia, and Magna Graecia, of Brittany and Britain, of Denmark and Norway, Sweden, Finland, Livonia, and so on. It is shown especially in contrast to the weaker connection between the inhabitants of the coast and those of the inland. — As for the means of education that lies in the connection with the sea, compare the relation to the sea of nations in which industry has flourished with that of nations that have forbidden themselves seafaring. The Egyptians and the Indians became dull and stagnant within themselves and sank into the most terrible and shameful superstition. And all great nations, striving within themselves, press toward the sea.
About this section
Section 247 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 249 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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