Section 56
Original German
56 β) Durch die Formirung erhält die Bestimmung, daß Etwas das Meinige ist, eine für sich bestehende Aeußerlichkeit und hört auf, auf meine Gegenwart in diesem Raum und in dieser Zeit und auf die Gegenwart meines Wissens und Wollens beschränkt zu seyn.
Das Formiren ist in so fern die der Idee angemessenste Besitznahme, weil sie das Subjective und Objective in sich vereinigt, übrigens nach der qualitativen Natur der Gegenstände und nach der Verschiedenheit der subjectiven Zwecke unendlich verschieden. — Es gehört hieher auch das Formiren des Organischen, an welchem das, was ich an ihm thue, nicht als ein Aeußerliches bleibt, sondern assimilirt wird; Bearbeitung der Erde, Cultur der Pflanzen, Bezähmen, Füttern und Hegen der Thiere; — weiter vermittelnde Veranstaltungen zur Benutzung elementarischer Stoffe oder Kräfte, veranstaltete Einwirkung eines Stoffes auf einen andern u. s. f.
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.
56 β) Through giving form, the determination that something is mine acquires an externality that subsists on its own, and ceases to be confined to my presence in this space and at this time, and to the presence of my knowing and willing.
Giving form is, to this extent, the mode of taking possession most adequate to the Idea, since it unites the subjective and the objective within itself. In other respects it varies infinitely with the qualitative nature of the objects and the diversity of subjective purposes.—This also includes giving form to living things, in which what I do to them does not remain external but is assimilated: working the soil, cultivating plants, taming, feeding, and tending animals; further, arrangements that mediate the use of elemental substances or forces, bringing one substance to act upon another, and so forth.
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.
56 β) By giving something form, I give the fact that it is mine an external existence of its own. It is no longer limited to my presence in this place and at this time, or to the presence of my knowledge and will.
Giving form is, to this extent, the way of taking possession that best fits the Idea, because it unites the subjective and objective within itself. Otherwise, it varies infinitely with the qualitative nature of the objects and the differences between subjective purposes.—This also includes giving form to living things, in which what I do does not remain external, but is assimilated: cultivating the earth, growing plants, taming, feeding, and tending animals. It also includes arrangements that provide further means of using elemental materials or forces, setting up one material to act on another, and so forth.
About this section
Section 56 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 58 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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