Section 28
Original German
28 Die Thätigkeit des Willens, den Widerspruch der Subjectivität und Objectivität aufzuheben und seine Zwecke aus jener Bestimmung in diese überzusetzen und in der Objectivität zugleich bey sich zu bleiben, ist außer der formalen Weise des Bewußtseyns (§. 8.), worinn die Objectivität nur als unmittelbare Wirklichkeit ist, die wesentliche Entwicklung des substantiellen Inhalts der Idee (§. 21.), eine Entwicklung, in welcher der Begriff die zunächst selbst abstracte Idee zur Totalität ihres Systems bestimmt, die als das Substantielle unabhängig von dem Gegensatze eines blos subjectiven Zwecks und seiner Realisirung, dasselbe in diesen beyden Formen 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.
28 The activity of the will is to sublate the contradiction between subjectivity and objectivity, to translate its ends from the former determination into the latter, and at the same time to remain at home with itself in objectivity. Apart from the formal mode of consciousness (§ 8), in which objectivity is merely immediate actuality, this activity is the essential development of the substantial content of the Idea (§ 21). In this development, the concept determines the Idea, which is at first itself abstract, into the totality of its system. As the substantial, this totality is independent of the opposition between a merely subjective end and its realization, and is the same in both these forms.
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.
28 The will's activity overcomes the contradiction between subjectivity and objectivity. It moves its purposes from the former into the latter while remaining at home with itself in objectivity. Apart from the formal mode of consciousness (§ 8), in which objectivity is only immediate actual reality, this activity is the essential development of the Idea's substantial content (§ 21). In this development, the concept gives the Idea, which is at first itself abstract, the fully determined form of its system as a whole. As the substantial, this whole is the same in both forms, independently of the opposition between a merely subjective purpose and its realization.
About this section
Section 28 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 30 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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