Section 262
Original German
262 Die wirkliche Idee, der Geist, der sich selbst in die zwey ideellen Sphären seines Begriffs, die Familie und die bürgerliche Gesellschaft, als in seine Endlichkeit scheidet, um aus ihrer Idealität für sich unendlicher wirklicher Geist zu seyn, theilt somit diesen Sphären das Material dieser seiner endlichen Wirklichkeit, die Individuen als die Menge zu, so daß diese Zutheilung am Einzelnen durch die Umstände, die Willkühr und eigene Wahl seiner Bestimmung vermittelt erscheint (§. 185. und Anm. daf.)
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.
262 The actual Idea, spirit, which divides itself into the two ideal spheres of its concept, the family and civil society, as into its finitude, in order out of their ideality to be for itself infinite actual spirit, thus assigns to these spheres the material of this its finite actuality, individuals as the multitude, in such a way that this assignment appears, in the single person, mediated by circumstances, arbitrary choice, and his own choice of a vocation (§ 185 and Remark there).
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.
262 The actual idea is spirit. It divides itself into the two ideal spheres of its concept, the family and civil society, as into its finitude. It does this in order to be, out of their ideality, infinite actual spirit for itself. In doing so, it assigns to these spheres the material of this, its finite actuality, namely the individuals as the mass. The assignment appears, in the case of each individual, as mediated by circumstances, by arbitrary choice and by his own choice of his calling. (§ 185 and the Remark there.)
About this section
Section 262 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 264 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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