Section 254
Original German
254 In der Corporation liegt nur insofern eine Beschränkung des sogenannten natürlichen Rechts, seine Geschicklichkeit auszuüben und damit zu erwerben, was zu erwerben ist, als sie darin zur Vernünftigkeit bestimmt, nemlich von der eigenen Meynung und Zufälligkeit, der eigenen Gefahr wie der Gefahr für andere, befreyt, anerkannt, gesichert und zugleich zur bewußten Thätigkeit für einen gemeinsamen Zweck erhoben wird.
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.
254 There lies in the corporation a restriction of the so-called natural right to exercise one's skill and thereby to acquire what is there to be acquired only in so far as in it that right is determined to rationality, that is, freed from one's own opinion and contingency, from one's own danger as well as from danger to others, and is recognized, secured, and at the same time raised to conscious activity for a common end.
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.
254 The corporation limits the so-called natural right to practice one's skill and so to earn whatever there is to earn only in so far as, within the corporation, this skill is made rational. That is, it is freed from one's own opinion and from chance, from one's own danger and from danger to others. It is recognized and secured, and at the same time raised to conscious activity for a common purpose.
About this section
Section 254 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 256 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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