Section 252
Original German
252 Die Corporation hat nach dieser Bestimmung unter der Aufsicht der öffentlichen Macht, das Recht, ihre eigenen innerhalb ihrer eingeschlossenen Interessen zu besorgen, Mitglieder nach der objectiven Eigenschaft ihrer Geschicklichkeit und Rechtschaffenheit, in einer durch den allgemeinen Zusammenhang sich bestimmenden Anzahl anzunehmen und für die ihr Angehörigen die Sorge gegen die besondern Zufälligkeiten, so wie für die Bildung zur Fähigkeit, ihr zugetheilt zu werden, zu tragen — überhaupt für sie als zweite Familie einzutreten, welche Stellung für die allgemeine, von den Individuen und ihrer besondern Nothdurft entferntere bürgerliche Gesellschaft unbestimmter bleibt.
Der Gewerbsmann ist verschieden vom Tagelöhner, wie von dem der zu einem einzelnen zufälligen Dienst bereit ist. Jener, der Meister, oder der es werden will, ist Mitglied der Genossenschaft nicht für einzelnen zufälligen Erwerb, sondern für den ganzen Umfang, das Allgemeine seiner besondern Subsistenz. — Privilegien als Rechte eines in eine Corporation gefaßten Zweigs der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft, und eigentliche Privilegien nach ihrer Etymologie, unterscheiden sich dadurch von einander, daß die letztern Ausnahmen vom allgemeinen Gesetze nach Zufälligkeit sind, jene aber nur gesetzlich gemachte Bestimmungen, die in der Natur der Besonderheit eines wesentlichen Zweigs der Gesellschaft selbst liegen.
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.
252 According to this determination, the corporation has the right, under the supervision of the public power, to look after its own interests enclosed within it; to admit members according to the objective qualification of their skill and rectitude, in a number determined by the general connection; and to bear the care for those belonging to it against particular contingencies, as well as for the training that gives the capacity to be admitted into it — in general, to step in for them as a second family; a position which remains more indeterminate for the universal civil society, which is more remote from individuals and their particular necessities.
The man of trade is different from the day laborer, and from the one who is ready for some single, casual service. The former, the master, or he who wishes to become one, is a member of the association not for a single casual gain, but for the whole scope, the universal, of his particular subsistence. — Privileges, as the rights of a branch of civil society constituted as a corporation, and privileges in the proper sense according to their etymology, differ from one another in that the latter are exceptions to the general law, according to contingency, while the former are only determinations made lawful, which lie in the nature of the particularity of an essential branch of society itself.
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.
252 Under this definition, the corporation has the right, under the oversight of the public power, to look after its own interests contained within it. It has the right to admit members, on the objective grounds of their skill and honesty, in a number fixed by the general context. It has the right to care for those who belong to it against particular accidents, and to provide the training that makes them able to be admitted. In general it has the right to stand up for them as a second family. This position remains more undefined for civil society in general, which is more remote from individuals and their particular needs.
The tradesman is different from the day laborer, and from the person who is ready to do a single casual job. The tradesman is the master, or wants to become one. He is a member of the association not for a single casual earning, but for the whole extent, the universal, of his particular livelihood. — Privileges are the rights of a branch of civil society that is formed into a corporation. Privileges in the strict sense, according to their etymology, are something different. The difference is that privileges in the strict sense are exceptions to the general law made by chance. The rights of a corporation, by contrast, are only provisions made lawful, which lie in the nature of the particularity of an essential branch of society itself.
About this section
Section 252 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 254 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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