Section 338
Original German
338 Darin, daß die Staaten sich als solche gegenseitig anerkennen, bleibt auch im Kriege, dem Zustande der Rechtlosigkeit, der Gewalt und Zufälligkeit, ein Band, in welchem sie an und für sich seyend für einander gelten, so daß im Kriege selbst der Krieg als ein vorübergehensollendes bestimmt ist. Er enthält damit die völkerrechtliche Bestimmung, daß in ihm die Möglichkeit des Friedens erhalten, somit z. B. die Gesandten respectirt, und überhaupt, daß er nicht gegen die innern Institutionen und das friedliche Familien- und Privatleben, nicht gegen die Privatpersonen geführt werde.
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.
338 In the fact that states mutually recognize one another as such, there remains even in war, the condition of rightlessness, violence, and contingency, a bond in which they count for one another as beings in and for themselves, so that in war itself war is determined as something that is meant to pass away. War thus contains the determination of international law that the possibility of peace is preserved in it, so that, for example, ambassadors are respected, and in general that it is not waged against the internal institutions and the peaceful family and private life, not against private persons.
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.
338 States recognize one another as states. So even in war, the condition of lawlessness, violence and chance, a bond remains in which they count for one another as being in and for themselves. In war itself, then, war is determined as something that is supposed to pass away. War thereby contains the rule of international law that the possibility of peace is kept alive in it. So, for example, envoys are respected. And in general war is not to be waged against the inner institutions, against peaceful family and private life, or against private persons.
About this section
Section 338 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 340 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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