Section 353
Original German
353 In der ersten als unmittelbaren Offenbarung hat er zum Princip die Gestalt des substantiellen Geistes, als der Identität, in welcher die Einzelnheit in ihr Wesen versenkt und für sich unberechtigt bleibt. —
Das zweyte Princip ist das Wissen dieses substantiellen Geistes, so daß er der positive Inhalt und Erfüllung und das Fürsichseyn als die lebendige Form desselben ist, die schöne sittliche Individualität. —
Das dritte ist das in sich Vertiefen des wissenden Fürsichseyns zur abstracten Allgemeinheit und damit zum unendlichen Gegensatze gegen die somit ebenso Geist-verlassene Objectivität. —
Das Princip der vierten Gestaltung ist das Umschlagen dieses Gegensatzes des Geistes, in seiner Innerlichkeit seine Wahrheit und concretes Wesen zu empfangen und in der Objectivität einheimisch und versöhnt zu seyn, und weil dieser zur ersten Substantialität zurückgekommene Geist der aus dem unendlichen Gegensatze zurückgekehrte ist, diese seine Wahrheit als Gedanke und als Welt gesetzlicher Wirklichkeit zu erzeugen und zu wissen.
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.
353 In the first, as immediate revelation, it has as its principle the shape of substantial spirit, as the identity in which individuality remains submerged in its essence and without right for itself. —
The second principle is the knowing of this substantial spirit, so that this is the positive content and fulfillment, and being-for-itself is its living form, the beautiful ethical individuality. —
The third is the deepening of the knowing being-for-itself into abstract universality, and with it into the infinite opposition to the objectivity which is thereby just as much abandoned by spirit. —
The principle of the fourth configuration is the reversal of this opposition of spirit, to receive in its inwardness its truth and concrete essence and to be at home and reconciled in objectivity, and, because this spirit, come back to the first substantiality, is the one returned from the infinite opposition, to produce and to know this its truth as thought and as a world of lawful actuality.
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.
353 In the first realm, as an immediate revelation, spirit has as its principle the form of substantial spirit. This is an identity in which individuality is sunk into its essence and has no rights of its own. —
The second principle is the knowing of this substantial spirit. Spirit is the positive content and fulfillment, and being-for-itself is its living form. This is the beautiful ethical individuality. —
The third is the sinking of knowing being-for-itself into itself, to abstract universality. With that comes an infinite opposition to an objectivity that is thereby likewise abandoned by spirit. —
The principle of the fourth form is the reversal of this opposition. Spirit receives its truth and concrete essence within its inner life, and is at home in objectivity and reconciled with it. This spirit has come back to the first substantiality, but it has returned from the infinite opposition. So it produces and knows this, its truth, as thought and as a world of lawful actuality.
About this section
Section 353 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 355 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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