Section 37
Original German
37 2) Die Besonderheit des Willens ist wohl Moment des ganzen Bewußtseyns des Willens (§. 34.), aber in der abstracten Persönlichkeit, als solcher noch nicht enthalten. Sie ist daher zwar vorhanden, aber als von der Persönlichkeit, der Bestimmung der Freyheit, noch verschieden, Begierde, Bedürfniß, Triebe, zufälliges Belieben u. s. f. — Im formellen Rechte kommt es daher nicht auf das besondere Interesse, meinen Nutzen oder Wohl an — eben so wenig auf den besondern Bestimmungsgrund meines Willens, auf die Einsicht und Absicht.
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.
37 2) The particularity of the will is indeed a moment of the will’s entire consciousness (§ 34), but is not yet contained in abstract personality as such. It is therefore present, but as still distinct from personality, from the determination of freedom: desire, need, drives, contingent preference, and so forth.—Formal right is therefore not concerned with particular interest, with my advantage or welfare—nor with the particular ground determining my will, with insight and intention.
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.
37 2) The will’s particularity is certainly a moment of the will’s whole consciousness (§ 34), but it is not yet contained in abstract personality as such. So it is present, but still distinct from personality, the determination of freedom: as desire, need, drives, incidental preference, and so on. Formal right therefore does not depend on particular interests, on my advantage or welfare, or on the particular motive of my will—my insight and intention.
About this section
Section 37 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 39 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.