Section 347
Original German
347 Dem Volke, dem solches Moment als natürliches Princip zukommt, ist die Vollstreckung desselben in dem Fortgange des sich entwickelnden Selbstbewußtseyns des Weltgeistes, übertragen. Dieses Volk ist in der Weltgeschichte, für diese Epoche, — und es kann (§. 346.) in ihr nur Einmal Epoche machen, das Herrschende. Gegen diß sein absolutes Recht, Träger der gegenwärtigen Entwickelungsstufe des Weltgeistes zu seyn, sind die Geister der andern Völker rechtlos, und sie, wie die, deren Epoche vorbey ist, zählen nicht mehr in der Weltgeschichte.
Die spezielle Geschichte eines welthistorischen Volks enthält theils die Entwickelung seines Princips von seinem kindlichen eingehüllten Zustande aus bis zu seiner Blüthe, wo es zum freyen sittlichen Selbstbewußtseyn gekommen, nun in die allgemeine Geschichte eingreift — theils auch die Periode des Verfalls und Verderbens; — denn so bezeichnet sich an ihm das Hervorgehen eines höheren Princips als nur des Negativen seines eigenen. Damit wird der Uebergang des Geistes in jenes Princip und so der Weltgeschichte an ein anderes Volk angedeutet, — eine Periode, von welcher aus jenes Volk das absolute Interesse verloren hat, das höhere Princip zwar dann auch positiv in sich aufnimmt und sich hineinbildet, aber darin als in einem Empfangenen nicht mit immanenter Lebendigkeit und Frische sich verhält, — vielleicht seine Selbstständigkeit verliert, vielleicht auch sich als besonderer Staat oder ein Kreis von Staaten, fortsetzt oder fortschleppt, und in mannigfaltigen innern Versuchen und äußern Kämpfen nach Zufall herumschlägt.
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.
347 To the people to which such a moment falls as a natural principle is entrusted its execution in the progress of the self-consciousness of the world spirit as it develops. This people is, in world history, for this epoch—and it can (§ 346) make epoch in it only once—the dominant one. Against this its absolute right to be the bearer of the present stage of development of the world spirit, the spirits of the other peoples are without right, and they, like those whose epoch is past, no longer count in world history.
The special history of a world-historical people contains in part the development of its principle from its childlike, enveloped state up to its bloom, where, having attained free ethical self-consciousness, it now intervenes in universal history—in part also the period of decline and corruption; for in this way the emergence of a higher principle shows itself in it as merely the negative of its own. With this the transition of spirit into that principle, and so of world history, to an other people is indicated—a period from which that people has lost the absolute interest, and though it then also takes up the higher principle positively into itself and forms itself into it, yet does not relate to it, as to something received, with immanent vitality and freshness—perhaps it loses its independence, perhaps it also continues or drags itself on as a particular state or a circle of states, and flounders about by chance in manifold internal attempts and external struggles.
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.
347 The people to whom such a moment belongs as a natural principle is charged with carrying it out in the advance of the world spirit's developing self-consciousness. In world history, for this epoch, this people is the dominant one. It can mark an epoch in world history only once (§ 346). Against this, its absolute right to be the bearer of the world spirit's present stage of development, the spirits of the other peoples have no rights. They, like those whose epoch is over, no longer count in world history.
The particular history of a world-historical people contains two things. First, it contains the development of its principle, from its childlike, wrapped-up state up to its full bloom. There it has reached free ethical self-consciousness and intervenes in universal history. Second, it also contains the period of decline and corruption. For in this way the rise of a higher principle shows itself in that people, as merely the negative of its own. This indicates that spirit, and with it world history, is passing over to that principle and to another people. From that period on, the earlier people has lost its absolute interest. It does take the higher principle into itself positively and shapes itself to fit it. But it relates to that principle as to something received, and not with inner vitality and freshness. Perhaps it loses its independence. Perhaps it carries on, or drags on, as a particular state or a group of states, and tosses about by chance in many inner experiments and outer struggles.
About this section
Section 347 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 349 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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