Section 286
Original German
286 Die objective Garantie der fürstlichen Gewalt, der rechtlichen Succession nach der Erblichkeit des Thrones u. s. f. liegt darin, daß wie diese Sphäre ihre von den anderen durch die Vernunft bestimmten Momenten ausgeschiedene Wirklichkeit hat, eben so die anderen für sich die eigenthümlichen Rechte und Pflichten ihrer Bestimmung haben; jedes Glied, indem es sich für sich erhält, erhält im vernünftigen Organismus eben damit die anderen in ihrer Eigenthümlichkeit.
Die monarchische Verfassung zur erblichen nach Primogenitur festbestimmten Thronfolge herausgearbeitet zu haben, so daß sie hiermit zum patriarchalischen Prinzip, von dem sie geschichtlich ausgegangen ist, aber in der höheren Bestimmung als die absolute Spitze eines organisch entwickelten Staats zurück geführt worden, ist eins der späteren Resultate der Geschichte, das für die öffentliche Freyheit und vernünftige Verfassung am wichtigsten ist, obgleich es, wie vorhin bemerkt, wenn schon respektirt, doch häufig am wenigsten begriffen wird. Die ehemaligen bloßen Feudalmonarchien, so wie die Despotien zeigen in der Geschichte darum diese Abwechselung von Empörungen, Gewaltthaten der Fürsten, innerlichen Kriegen, Untergang fürstlicher Individuen und Dynastien, und die daraus hervorgehende innere und äußere, allgemeine Verwüstung und Zerstörung, weil in solchem Zustand die Theilung des Staatsgeschäfts, indem seine Theile Vasallen, Pascha's u. s. f. übertragen sind, nur mechanisch, nicht ein Unterschied der Bestimmung und Form, sondern nur ein Unterschied größerer oder geringerer Gewalt ist. So erhält und bringt jeder Theil, indem er sich erhält, nur sich und darin nicht zugleich die anderen hervor, und hat zur unabhängigen Selbstständigkeit alle Momente vollständig an ihm selbst. Im organischen Verhältnisse, in welchem Glieder, nicht Theile, sich zu einander verhalten, erhält jedes die anderen, indem es seine eigne Sphäre erfüllt, jedem ist für die eigene Selbsterhaltung, eben so die Erhaltung der anderen Glieder substantieller Zweck und Product. Die Garantieen, nach denen gefragt wird, es sey für die Festigkeit der Thronfolge, der fürstlichen Gewalt überhaupt, für Gerechtigkeit, öffentliche Freyheit, u. s. f. sind Sicherungen durch Institutionen. Als subjective Garantieen können Liebe des Volks, Charakter, Eyde, Gewalt u. s. f. angesehen werden, aber so wie von Verfassung gesprochen wird, ist die Rede nur von objectiven Garantieen, den Institutionen, d. i. den organisch verschränkten und sich bedingenden Momenten. So sind sich öffentliche Freyheit überhaupt, und Erblichkeit des Thrones gegenseitige Garantieen, und stehen im absoluten Zusammenhang, weil die öffentliche Freyheit die vernünftige Verfassung ist, und die Erblichkeit der fürstlichen Gewalt das, wie gezeigt, in ihrem Begriffe liegende Moment.
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.
286 The objective guarantee of the princely power, of rightful succession according to the hereditary character of the throne, and so forth, lies in this: just as this sphere has its actuality distinct from the other moments determined by reason, so the others have, in their own right, the distinctive rights and duties of their determination. Each member, in preserving itself in its own right, thereby preserves the others in their distinctiveness within the rational organism.
To have developed the monarchical constitution into a hereditary succession firmly determined by primogeniture, so that it has thereby been led back to the patriarchal principle from which it historically proceeded, but in the higher determination of the absolute apex of an organically developed state, is one of history's later results. It is of the greatest importance for public freedom and a rational constitution, although, as noted above, even when it is respected it is often understood least of all. Former merely feudal monarchies, like despotisms, therefore display in history this alternation of revolts, acts of violence by princes, civil wars, the downfall of princely individuals and dynasties, and the resulting inward and outward universal devastation and destruction. For in such a condition the division of state affairs, whose parts are entrusted to vassals, pashas, and so forth, is merely mechanical: not a distinction of determination and form, but only a distinction of greater or lesser power. Thus each part, in preserving itself, preserves and produces only itself, not the others along with it, and possesses all the moments completely within itself for an independent self-subsistence. In an organic relation, in which members, not parts, relate to one another, each preserves the others in fulfilling its own sphere; for each, its own preservation, and likewise the preservation of the other members, is its substantial purpose and product. The guarantees people ask for, whether for the stability of the succession, for princely power in general, for justice, public freedom, and so forth, are safeguards through institutions. The people's love, character, oath, force, and so forth may count as subjective guarantees; but where the constitution is in question, only objective guarantees are meant: institutions, that is, organically interwoven and mutually conditioning moments. Thus public freedom in general and the hereditary character of the throne are mutual guarantees and stand in an absolute connection, because public freedom is the rational constitution, and the hereditary character of princely power is, as has been shown, the moment lying in its concept.
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.
286 The objective guarantee of the power of the prince, of lawful succession through inheritance of the throne, and so on, lies in this: just as this sphere has an actual reality distinct from the other moments determined by reason, so the others, in their own right, have the distinctive rights and duties of their determination. In a rational organism, each member, by preserving itself for itself, thereby preserves the others in their distinctive character.
To have developed the monarchical constitution into a hereditary succession to the throne fixed by primogeniture, thus returning it to the patriarchal principle from which it began historically, but with the higher determination of being the absolute summit of an organically developed state, is one of history's later achievements. It is the most important for public freedom and a rational constitution. Yet, as noted earlier, although it is respected, it is often the least understood. Former merely feudal monarchies, like despotisms, display in history this succession of rebellions, acts of violence by princes, internal wars, the fall of individual princes and dynasties, and the general devastation and destruction, internal and external, resulting from them. This happens because in such a condition the division of state functions, with their parts entrusted to vassals, pashas, and so on, is merely mechanical. It is not a difference in determination and form but only a difference in greater or lesser power. Each part, by preserving itself, preserves and produces only itself, not the others at the same time. It contains all the moments completely within itself for independent self-sufficiency. In an organic relationship, where members, not parts, relate to one another, each preserves the others by fulfilling its own sphere. For each member, in its own self-preservation, the preservation of the other members is equally a substantial purpose and product. The guarantees people ask for, whether for stable succession, the power of the prince in general, justice, public freedom, and so on, are safeguards through institutions. Love of the people, character, oaths, force, and so on can be regarded as subjective guarantees. But as soon as we speak of a constitution, we are speaking only of objective guarantees: institutions, that is, organically interwoven and mutually conditioning moments. Thus public freedom in general and the hereditary character of the throne guarantee each other and are absolutely connected. Public freedom is the rational constitution, and the hereditary character of the power of the prince is, as shown, the moment contained in its concept.
About this section
Section 286 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 288 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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