Section 251
Original German
251 Das Arbeitswesen der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft zerfällt nach der Natur seiner Besonderheit in verschiedene Zweige. Indem solches an sich Gleiche der Besonderheit als Gemeinsames in der Genossenschaft zur Existenz kommt, faßt und bethätigt der auf sein Besonderes gerichtete, selbstsüchtige Zweck zugleich sich als allgemeinen, und das Mitglied der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft ist, nach seiner besondern Geschicklichkeit Mitglied der Corporation, deren allgemeiner Zweck damit ganz concret ist und keinen weitern Umfang hat, als der im Gewerbe, dem eigenthümlichen Geschäfte und Interesse, liegt.
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.
251 The business of labor in civil society divides, according to the nature of its particularity, into different branches. When this likeness, which is in itself the likeness of particularity, comes into existence as something common in the association, the self-seeking end, directed to its own particular, grasps and realizes itself at the same time as universal; and the member of civil society is, according to his particular skill, a member of the corporation, whose universal end is thus wholly concrete and has no wider scope than lies in the trade, in its own proper business and interest.
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.
251 The work of civil society divides into different branches, according to the nature of its particularity. What is alike in itself in this particularity comes into existence as something shared in the association. The self-seeking purpose, directed toward its own particular interest, then grasps and acts on itself at the same time as universal. And the member of civil society is a member of the corporation according to his particular skill. The corporation's universal purpose is therefore entirely concrete, and has no wider reach than what lies in the trade, in its own business and interest.
About this section
Section 251 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 253 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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