Section 87
Original German
B. Betrug.
87 Das Recht an sich in seinem Unterschiede von dem Recht als besonderem und daseyenden, ist als ein gefodertes, zwar als das Wesentliche bestimmt, aber darin zugleich nur ein gefodertes, nach dieser Seite etwas blos subjectives, damit unwesentliches und blos scheinendes. So das Allgemeine von dem besondern Willen zu einem nur Scheinenden, — zunächst im Vertrage zur nur äußerlichen Gemeinsamkeit des Willens herabgesetzt, ist es der Betrug.
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.
B. Fraud
87 Right in itself, in its distinction from right as particular and existent, is, as something demanded, indeed determined as essential. But at the same time it is thereby only something demanded and, in this respect, something merely subjective, hence unessential and merely seeming. With the universal thus reduced by the particular will to mere semblance—in contract, initially, to a merely external commonality of will—there is fraud.
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.
B. Fraud
87 Right in itself, as distinct from right as particular and existing, is determined as essential, but as something demanded. In this respect it is at the same time only demanded: something merely subjective, and thus inessential and merely seeming. When the particular will reduces the universal to something merely seeming—initially, in contract, to a merely external sharing of will—this is fraud.
About this section
Section 87 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 89 of 362 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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