Section 307
Original German
307 Das Recht dieses Theils des substantiellen Standes ist auf diese Weise zwar einerseits auf das Naturprinzip der Familie gegründet, dieses aber zugleich durch harte Aufopferungen für den politischen Zweck verkehrt, womit dieser Stand wesentlich an die Thätigkeit für diesen Zweck angewiesen, und gleichfalls in Folge hievon ohne die Zufälligkeit einer Wahl durch die Geburt dazu berufen und berechtigt ist. Damit hat er die feste, substantielle Stellung zwischen der subjectiven Willkühr oder Zufälligkeit der beyden Extreme, und wie er (s. vorherg. §.) ein Gleichniß des Moments der fürstlichen Gewalt in sich trägt, so theilt er auch mit dem anderen Extreme die im übrigen gleichen Bedürfnisse und gleichen Rechte, und wird so zugleich Stütze des Thrones und der Gesellschaft.
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.
307 The right of this part of the substantial estate is thus founded, on one side, on the natural principle of the family, yet this principle is at the same time inverted by hard sacrifices made for the political purpose. By this the estate is essentially directed to activity for that purpose, and in consequence is likewise called to it and entitled to it by birth, without the contingency of an election. It thereby has a firm, substantial position between the subjective arbitrary choice, or contingency, of the two extremes; and as it bears within itself (see the preceding §) a likeness of the moment of the princely power, so it also shares with the other extreme the needs, otherwise the same, and the rights, likewise the same, and thus becomes at once a support of the throne and of society.
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.
307 The right of this part of the substantial class rests, in this way, on the natural principle of the family. But that principle is at the same time turned around by hard sacrifices for the political purpose. Because of this, the class is essentially directed to activity for this purpose. For the same reason it is called to this activity and entitled to it by birth, without the accident of a choice. So it has a firm, substantial position between the arbitrary choice, or accident, of the two extremes. As it carries within itself an image of the element of the princely power (see the preceding §), so it also shares with the other extreme the needs and rights that are otherwise the same. In this way it becomes at once a support of the throne and of society.
About this section
Section 307 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 309 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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