Section 277
Original German
277 β) Die besonderen Geschäfte und Wirksamkeiten des Staats sind als die wesentlichen Momente desselben ihm eigen, und an die Individuen, durch welche sie gehandhabt und bethätigt werden, nicht nach deren unmittelbaren Persönlichkeit, sondern nur nach ihren allgemeinen und objectiven Qualitäten geknüpft und daher mit der besonderen Persönlichkeit als solcher, äußerlicher und zufälligerweise verbunden. Die Staatsgeschäfte und Gewalten können daher nicht Privat-Eigenthum seyn.
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.
277 β) The particular functions and activities of the state belong to it as its essential moments. They are attached to the individuals who administer and perform them not according to those individuals' immediate personality, but only according to their universal and objective qualities; hence their connection with a particular personality as such is external and contingent. The functions and powers of the state therefore cannot be private property.
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.
277 β) The state's particular functions and activities are its own, as its essential moments. They are connected to the individuals who carry them out and put them into effect, not through those individuals' immediate personalities, but only through their universal and objective qualities. Their connection to a particular personality as such is therefore external and contingent. State functions and powers consequently cannot be private property.
About this section
Section 277 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 279 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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