Section 256
Original German
256 Der Zweck der Corporation als beschränkter und endlicher hat seine Wahrheit, — so wie die in der polizeylichen äußerlichen Anordnung vorhandene Trennung und deren relative Identität, — in dem an und für sich allgemeinen Zwecke und dessen absoluter Wirklichkeit; die Sphäre der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft geht daher in den Staat über.
Stadt und Land, jene der Sitz des bürgerlichen Gewerbes, der in sich aufgehenden und vereinzelnden Reflexion, — dieses der Sitz der auf der Natur ruhenden Sittlichkeit, — die im Verhältniß zu anderen rechtlichen Personen ihre Selbsterhaltung vermittelnden Individuen, und die Familie, machen die beyden noch ideellen Momente überhaupt aus, aus denen der Staat als ihr wahrhafter Grund hervorgehet. — Diese Entwickelung der unmittelbaren Sittlichkeit durch die Entzweyung der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft hindurch, zum Staate, der als ihren wahrhaften Grund sich zeigt, und nur eine solche Entwickelung ist der wissenschaftliche Beweis des Begriffs des Staats. — Weil im Gange des wissenschaftlichen Begriffes der Staat als Resultat erscheint, indem er sich als wahrhafter Grund ergiebt, so hebt jene Vermittelung und jener Schein sich eben so sehr zur Unmittelbarkeit auf. In der Wirklichkeit ist darum der Staat überhaupt vielmehr das Erste, innerhalb dessen sich erst die Familie zur bürgerlichen Gesellschaft ausbildet, und es ist die Idee des Staates selbst, welche sich in diese beyden Momente dirimirt; in der Entwickelung der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft gewinnt die sittliche Substanz ihre unendliche Form, welche die beyden Momente in sich enthält: 1) der unendlichen Unterscheidung bis zum für-sich-seyenden Insichseyn des Selbstbewußtseyns, und 2) der Form der Allgemeinheit, welche in der Bildung ist, der Form des Gedankens, wodurch der Geist sich in Gesetzen und Institutionen, seinem gedachten Willen, als organische Totalität objectiv und wirklich ist.
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.
256 The end of the corporation, as limited and finite, has its truth — as does the separation present in the external arrangement of police, and its relative identity — in the end that is universal in and for itself, and in its absolute actuality; the sphere of civil society therefore passes over into the state.
Town and country, the former the seat of civil trade, of reflection absorbed in itself and isolating itself, the latter the seat of the ethical life resting on nature; the individuals who mediate their self-preservation in relation to other legal persons; and the family — these constitute the two still ideal moments from which the state proceeds as their true ground. — This development of immediate ethical life, through the sundering of civil society, to the state, which shows itself as their true ground, and only such a development, is the scientific proof of the concept of the state. — Because in the course of the scientific concept the state appears as a result, in that it proves to be the true ground, that mediation and that semblance just as much sublate themselves into immediacy. In actuality, therefore, the state in general is rather what comes first, within which the family first develops into civil society; and it is the Idea of the state itself which divides itself into these two moments. In the development of civil society the ethical substance gains its infinite form, which contains the two moments in itself: 1) that of infinite distinction, up to the being-within-itself, existing for itself, of self-consciousness, and 2) the form of universality, which is in culture, the form of thought, by which spirit is objective and actual in laws and institutions, its thought will, as an organic totality.
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.
256 The purpose of the corporation is limited and finite. Its truth lies in the universal purpose that is so in and for itself, and in that purpose's absolute actual reality. The same holds for the separation present in the outer arrangements of the police, and for the relative identity of what is separated. So the sphere of civil society passes over into the state.
City and country make up the two moments, still ideal ones in general. The city is the seat of civil trade and industry, of reflection that turns in on itself and isolates. The country is the seat of ethical life resting on nature. In other words, the two moments are the individuals who secure their self-preservation in relation to other legal persons, and the family. The state proceeds from them as their true ground. — This development leads from immediate ethical life, through the split of civil society, to the state, which shows itself to be their true ground. Only such a development is the scientific proof of the concept of the state. — In the course of the scientific concept the state appears as a result, since it turns out to be the true ground. So that mediation and that appearance cancel themselves just as much into immediacy. In actual reality, therefore, the state in general is rather what comes first. Only within it does the family develop into civil society. It is the Idea of the state itself that divides itself into these two moments. In the development of civil society, the ethical substance gains its infinite form. This form holds two moments within itself. First, infinite distinction, up to the being-within-itself, for itself, of self-consciousness. Second, the form of universality that is present in education, the form of thought. Through this form spirit is objective and real in laws and institutions, which are its thought will, as an organic totality.
About this section
Section 256 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 258 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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