Section 60
Original German
60 Die Benutzung einer Sache in unmittelbarer Ergreifung, ist für sich eine einzelne Besitznahme. In so fern aber die Benutzung sich auf ein fortdauerndes Bedürfniß gründet und wiederholte Benutzung eines sich erneuernden Erzeugnisses ist, etwa auch zum Behufe der Erhaltung dieser Erneuerung sich beschränkt, so machen diese und andere Umstände jene unmittelbare einzelne Ergreifung zu einem Zeichen, daß sie die Bedeutung einer allgemeinen Besitznahme, damit der Besitznahme der elementarischen oder organischen Grundlage oder der sonstigen Bedingungen solcher Erzeugnisse haben soll.
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.
60 The use of a thing through immediately taking hold of it is, taken on its own, a single act of taking possession. But insofar as this use rests on a continuing need and is the repeated use of a product that renews itself, perhaps also restricting itself in order to preserve that renewal, these and other circumstances make that immediate, single act of taking hold into a sign: it is to have the significance of a universal taking of possession, and thus of taking possession of the elemental or organic basis, or of the other conditions, of such products.
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.
60 Using a thing by directly grasping it is, on its own, an individual act of taking possession. But suppose the use rests on a continuing need and repeatedly uses a product that renews itself, perhaps also limiting itself to preserve this renewal. These and other circumstances make that immediate individual act of grasping into a sign. It is supposed to mean a general taking possession, and thus taking possession of the elemental or organic basis, or of the other conditions, of such products.
About this section
Section 60 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 62 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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