Section 249
Original German
249 Die polizeyliche Vorsorge verwirklicht und erhält zunächst das Allgemeine, welches in der Besonderheit der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft enthalten ist, als eine äußere Ordnung und Veranstaltung zum Schutz und Sicherheit der Massen von besondern Zwecken und Interessen, als welche in diesem Allgemeinen ihr Bestehen haben, so wie sie als höhere Leitung Vorsorge für die Interessen (§. 246.), die über diese Gesellschaft hinausführen, trägt. Indem nach der Idee die Besonderheit selbst dieses Allgemeine, das in ihren immanenten Interessen ist, zum Zweck und Gegenstand ihres Willens und ihrer Thätigkeit macht, so kehrt das Sittliche als ein immanentes in die bürgerliche Gesellschaft zurück; diß macht die Bestimmung der Corporation aus.
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.
249 Police provision first of all realizes and maintains the universal that is contained in the particularity of civil society, as an external order and arrangement for the protection and security of the masses of particular ends and interests, which have their subsistence in this universal; and, as a higher direction, it takes care of the interests (§ 246) that lead beyond this society. Since, according to the Idea, particularity itself makes this universal, which lies in its immanent interests, the end and object of its will and activity, the ethical returns into civil society as something immanent; this constitutes the determination of the corporation.
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.
249 First, police provision makes real and maintains the universal that is contained in the particularity of civil society. It does so as an outer order and arrangement for the protection and security of the masses of particular purposes and interests, which have their existence in this universal. As a higher direction, it also looks after interests (§ 246) that lead beyond this society. According to the Idea, particularity itself makes this universal, which lies in its own immanent interests, the purpose and object of its will and activity. In this way the ethical returns into civil society as something immanent. This makes up the vocation of the corporation.
About this section
Section 249 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 251 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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