Section 55
Original German
55 α) Die körperliche Ergreifung ist nach der sinnlichen Seite, indem Ich in diesem Besitzen unmittelbar gegenwärtig bin und damit mein Wille eben so erkennbar ist, die vollständigste Weise; aber überhaupt nur subjectiv, temporär und dem Umfange nach, so wie auch durch die qualitative Natur der Gegenstände höchst eingeschränkt. — Durch den Zusammenhang, in den ich Etwas mit anderwärts mir schon eigenthümlichen Sachen bringen kann, oder Etwas sonst zufälliger Weise kommt, durch andere Vermittlungen wird der Umfang dieser Besitznahme etwas ausgedehnt.
Mechanische Kräfte, Waffen, Instrumente erweitern den Bereich meiner Gewalt. — Zusammenhänge, wie des meinen Boden bespülenden Meeres, Stromes, eines zur Jagd, Weide, und anderer Benutzung tauglichen Bodens, der an mein festes Eigenthum angrenzt, der Steine und anderer Mineralienlager unter meinem Acker, Schätze in oder unter meinem Grundeigenthum u. s. f. — oder Zusammenhänge, die erst in der Zeit und zufällig erfolgen, (wie ein Theil der sogenannten natürlichen Accessionen, Alluvion und dergleichen, auch Strandung —) die Foetura ist wohl eine Accession zu meinem Vermögen, aber, als ein organisches Verhältniß, kein äußerliches Hinzukommen zu einer andern von mir besessenen Sache und daher von ganz anderer Art, als die sonstigen Accessionen, — sind theils leichtere zum Theil ausschließende Möglichkeiten, etwas in Besitz zu nehmen oder zu benutzen für einen Besitzer gegen einen andern, theils kann das Hinzugekommene als ein unselbstständiges Accidens der Sache, zu der es hinzugekommen, angesehen werden. Es sind dieß überhaupt äußerliche Verknüpfungen, die nicht den Begriff und die Lebendigkeit zu ihrem Bande haben. Sie fallen daher dem Verstande für Herbeybringung und Abwägung der Gründe und Gegengründe und der positiven Gesetzgebung zur Entscheidung, nach einem Mehr oder Weniger von Wesentlichkeit oder Unwesentlichkeit der Beziehungen, anheim.
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.
55 α) On the sensuous side, physical seizure is the most complete mode, since in this possession I am immediately present and my will is thus equally recognizable. Yet, in general, it is only subjective, temporary, and extremely restricted both in extent and by the qualitative nature of the objects.—The scope of this taking of possession is somewhat extended through the connection into which I can bring something with things that already belong to me elsewhere, or into which something otherwise comes by chance, and through other mediations.
Mechanical forces, weapons, and instruments extend the range of my power.—Connections such as those of the sea or river washing my land; of land suitable for hunting, grazing, and other uses that borders on my fixed property; of deposits of stone and other minerals beneath my field; of treasures in or beneath my landed property, and so forth—or connections arising only in time and by chance (as with some of the so-called natural accessions, alluvial accretion and the like, and also stranding)—offspring is indeed an accession to my wealth, but, as an organic relation, not an external addition to another thing I possess, and is therefore of an entirely different kind from the other accessions—are partly easier, and in some cases exclusive, opportunities for one possessor, as against another, to take possession of or use something; partly, what has been added can be regarded as a dependent accident of the thing to which it has been added. These are, in general, external connections whose bond is neither the concept nor life. They therefore fall to the understanding to bring forward and weigh grounds and countergrounds, and to positive legislation to decide, according to the greater or lesser essentiality or inessentiality of the relations.
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.
55 α) Physically grasping something is the most complete way of taking possession from the sensory point of view. I am directly present in this possession, and so my will is just as recognizable. But it is only subjective and temporary, and its scope, as well as the qualitative nature of the objects, puts very strict limits on it.—This way of taking possession extends somewhat further through the connection I can establish between something and other things I already own, through a connection something enters into by chance, or through other means.
Mechanical forces, weapons, and tools extend the reach of my power.—Connections include those of the sea or river washing my land; of land suitable for hunting, grazing, or other use that borders my fixed property; of deposits of stone and other minerals under my field; of treasure in or under my landed property, and so forth. Other connections arise only over time and by chance, as with some so-called natural accessions, alluvial deposits and the like, and things washed ashore. Offspring certainly add to my assets, but, as an organic relationship, this is not an external addition to another thing I possess, and so is entirely different from the other accessions. These connections partly make it easier for one possessor rather than another to take possession of or use something, and sometimes make it possible for that possessor alone. In other cases, the addition can be regarded as a dependent accident of the thing it has been added to. In general, these are external connections, not held together by the concept and by life. They must therefore be left to the understanding to bring forward and weigh the reasons for and against, and to positive legislation to decide, according to the greater or lesser importance or unimportance of the relationships.
About this section
Section 55 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 57 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.