Section 51
Original German
51 Zum Eigenthum als dem Daseyn der Persönlichkeit, ist meine innerliche Vorstellung und Wille, daß Etwas mein seyn solle, nicht hinreichend, sondern es wird dazu die Besitzergreifung erfodert. Das Daseyn, welches jenes Wollen hiedurch erhält, schließt die Erkennbarkeit für andere in sich. — Daß die Sache, von der Ich Besitz nehmen kann, herrenlos sey, ist (wie §. 50.) eine sich von selbst verstehende negative Bedingung, oder bezieht sich vielmehr auf das anticipirte Verhältniß zu andern.
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.
51 For property as the existence of personality, my inward representation and will that something should be mine are not sufficient; taking possession is required. The existence that this willing thereby acquires includes its recognizability by others.—That the thing of which I can take possession must be ownerless is, as in § 50., a self-evident negative condition, or rather refers to the anticipated relation to others.
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.
51 For property to exist as the existence of personality, my inward idea and will that something should be mine are not enough. I must also take possession of it. The existence this gives to my willing includes its being recognizable to others.—The requirement that a thing I can take possession of must be ownerless is a negative condition that goes without saying (as in § 50). Or rather, it refers to the anticipated relationship to others.
About this section
Section 51 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 53 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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