Section 63
Original German
63 Die Sache im Gebrauch ist eine einzelne nach Qualität und Quantität bestimmte und in Beziehung auf ein specifisches Bedürfniß. Aber ihre specifische Brauchbarkeit ist zugleich als quantitativ bestimmt vergleichbar mit andern Sachen von derselben Brauchbarkeit, so wie das specifische Bedürfniß, dem sie dient, zugleich Bedürfniß überhaupt und darin nach seiner Besonderheit eben so mit andern Bedürfnissen vergleichbar ist, und darnach auch die Sache mit solchen, die für andere Bedürfnisse brauchbar sind. Diese ihre Allgemeinheit, deren einfache Bestimmtheit aus der Particularität der Sache hervorgeht, so daß von dieser specifischen Qualität zugleich abstrahirt wird, ist der Werth der Sache, worin ihre wahrhafte Substantialität bestimmt und Gegenstand des Bewußtseyns ist. Als voller Eigenthümer der Sache bin ich es eben so von ihrem Werthe, als von dem Gebrauche derselben.
Der Lehensträger hat den Unterschied in seinem Eigenthum, daß er nur Eigenthümer des Gebrauchs, nicht des Werths der Sache seyn 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.
63 The thing in use is an individual thing, determined in quality and quantity and related to a specific need. But its specific usefulness, as quantitatively determined, is at the same time comparable with other things of the same usefulness; likewise, the specific need it serves is also need in general, and is in this respect comparable, in its particularity, with other needs. Accordingly, the thing too is comparable with things useful for other needs. This universality of the thing, whose simple determinacy emerges from its particularity in such a way that abstraction is also made from this specific quality, is its value. In value, its true substantiality is determined and is an object of consciousness. As full owner of the thing, I own its value just as much as its use.
The holder of a fief has this distinction within his ownership: he is supposed to own only the thing's use, not its value.
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.
63 A thing in use is an individual thing, defined in quality and quantity and related to a specific need. But its specific usefulness, as something quantitatively defined, is also comparable with other things of the same usefulness. Likewise, the specific need it serves is also need in general. In this respect, its particular character can be compared with other needs, and accordingly the thing can also be compared with things useful for other needs. This universality of the thing is its value. Its simple determination emerges from the particular character of the thing, while also abstracting from that specific quality. In value, the thing's true substantiality is determined and becomes an object of consciousness. As full owner of the thing, I own its value just as much as its use.
The holder of a fief has this distinction within their property: they are supposed to own only the use of the thing, not its value.
About this section
Section 63 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 65 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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