Section 61
Original German
61 Da die Substanz der Sache für sich, die mein Eigenthum ist, ihre Aeußerlichkeit d. i. ihre Nichtsubstantialität ist, — sie ist gegen mich nicht Endzweck in sich selbst (§. 42.) — und diese realisirte Aeußerlichkeit der Gebrauch oder die Benutzung, die ich von ihr mache, ist, so ist der ganze Gebrauch oder Benutzung, die Sache in ihrem ganzen Umfange, so daß, wenn jener mir zusteht, Ich der Eigenthümer der Sache bin, von welcher über den ganzen Umfang des Gebrauchs hinaus nichts übrig bleibt, was Eigenthum eines andern seyn könnte.
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.
61 Since the substance of the thing that is my property, considered on its own, is its externality—that is, its lack of substantiality; it is not, as against me, an ultimate end in itself (§ 42.)—and since this realized externality is the use or employment I make of it, the whole use or employment is the thing in its entire extent. Thus, if that use belongs to me, I am the owner of the thing, of which nothing remains beyond the entire extent of its use that could be the property of another.
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.
61 The substance of a thing that is my property consists, on its own account, in its externality—that is, its lack of substance. In relation to me, it is not an end in itself (§ 42). This externality, realized, is the use I make of it. So the whole use of the thing is the thing in its full extent. If that use belongs to me, I am the owner of the thing. Beyond the full extent of its use, nothing remains of it that could be someone else's property.
About this section
Section 61 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 63 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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