Section 309
Original German
309 Da die Abordnung zur Berathung und Beschließung über die allgemeinen Angelegenheiten geschieht, hat sie den Sinn, daß durch das Zutrauen solche Individuen dazu bestimmt werden, die sich besser auf diese Angelegenheiten verstehen, als die Abordnenden, wie auch, daß sie nicht das besondere Interesse einer Gemeinde, Corporation gegen das allgemeine, sondern wesentlich dieses geltend machen. Sie haben damit nicht das Verhältniß, committirte oder Instructionen überbringende Mandatarien zu seyn, um so weniger als die Zusammenkunft die Bestimmung hat, eine lebendige, sich gegenseitig unterrichtende und überzeugende, gemeinsam berathende Versammlung zu 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.
309 Since the deputation takes place for deliberating and deciding on the universal affairs, it has the sense that, through trust, such individuals are designated for it as understand these affairs better than those who depute them, and also that they assert, not the particular interest of a community or corporation against the universal, but essentially the latter. They are therefore not in the relation of being committed mandatories or bearers of instructions, all the less since the meeting has the vocation of being a living assembly, which instructs and convinces its members reciprocally and deliberates in common.
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.
309 The deputation is made for deliberating and deciding on the general affairs. So it means that, through trust, those individuals are picked who understand these affairs better than those who send them. It also means that they uphold not the particular interest of a community or corporation against the general interest, but essentially the general interest. They are therefore not in the position of being agents under orders or bearers of instructions. This is all the more so because the assembly is meant to be a living gathering, in which members inform and convince one another and deliberate together.
About this section
Section 309 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 311 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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