Section 357
Original German
357 3) Das Römische Reich.
In diesem Reiche vollbringt sich die Unterscheidung zur unendlichen Zerreißung des sittlichen Lebens in die Extreme persönlichen privaten Selbstbewußtseyns, und abstrakter Allgemeinheit. Die Entgegensetzung, ausgegangen von der substantiellen Anschauung einer Aristokratie gegen das Prinzip freyer Persönlichkeit in demokratischer Form, entwickelt sich nach jener Seite zum Aberglauben und zur Behauptung kalter, habsüchtiger Gewalt, nach dieser zur Verdorbenheit eines Pöbels, und die Auflösung des Ganzen endigt sich in das allgemeine Unglück und den Tod des sittlichen Lebens, worin die Völkerindividualitäten in der Einheit eines Pantheons ersterben, alle Einzelne zu Privatpersonen und zu Gleichen mit formellem Rechte, herabsinken, welche hiermit nur eine abstracte ins Ungeheure sich treibende Willkühr zusammenhält.
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.
357 3) The Roman Realm.
In this realm the differentiation is carried through to the infinite tearing apart of ethical life into the extremes of personal private self-consciousness and abstract universality. The opposition, which proceeded from the substantial intuition of an aristocracy against the principle of free personality in democratic form, develops on the one side into superstition and the assertion of cold, greedy power, on the other into the depravity of a rabble, and the dissolution of the whole ends in universal misfortune and the death of ethical life, in which the individualities of peoples die away in the unity of a pantheon, and all individuals sink down to private persons and to equals with formal right, who are held together only by an abstract arbitrary will driven to the monstrous.
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.
357 3) The Roman Realm.
In this realm the distinction is carried through to an infinite tearing apart of ethical life. It splits into the extremes of personal, private self-consciousness and abstract universality. The opposition starts from the substantial view of an aristocracy, set against the principle of free personality in democratic form. On the aristocratic side, it develops into superstition and the assertion of cold, greedy power. On the democratic side, it develops into the corruption of a mob. The dissolution of the whole ends in general misfortune and the death of ethical life. In this, the individualities of the peoples die away in the unity of a Pantheon. All individuals sink down to private persons and to equals with formal right. What holds them together is only an abstract arbitrary choice that is driven to monstrous extremes.
About this section
Section 357 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 359 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
Open the work page for the full contents, every edition, and the download links, or go back to Explore to browse other complete works in the European tradition. The reader keeps your place when you are signed in and lets you compare the original with each translation, one edition at a time.