第一小说网

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material　in　which　the　Ideal　of　Reason　is　wrought　out？　The　primary　answer　would　be；　…　Personality

itself　…　human　desires　…　Subjectivity　generally。　In　human　knowledge　and　volition；　as　its　material

element；　Reason　attains　positive　existence。　We　have　considered　subjective　volition　where　it　has　an

object　which　is　the　truth　and　essence　of　a　reality；　viz。　where　it　constitutes　a　great　world…historical

passion。　As　a　subjective　will；　occupied　with　limited　passions；　it　is　dependent；　and　can　gratify　its

desires　only　within　the　limits　of　this　dependence。　But　the　subjective　will　has　also　a　substantial　life　…

a　reality；　…　in　which　it　moves　in　the　region　of　essential　being　and　has　the　essential　itself　as　the

object　of　its　existence。　This　essential　being　is　the　union　of　the　subjective　with　the　rational　Will：　it

is　the　moral　Whole；　the　State；　which　is　that　form　of　reality　in　which　the　individual　has　and　enjoys

his　freedom；　but　on　the　condition　of　his　recognition；　believing　in　and　willing　that　which　is　mon

to　the　Whole。　And　this　must　not　be　understood　as　if　the　subjective　will　of　the　social　unit　attained　its

gratification　and　enjoyment　through　that　mon　Will；　as　if　this　were　a　means　provided　for　its

benefit；　as　if　the　individual；　in　his　relations　to　other　individuals；　thus　limited　his　freedom；　in　order

that　this　universal　limitation　…　the　mutual　constraint　of　all　…　might　secure　a　small　space　of　liberty　for

each。　Rather；　we　affirm；　are　Law；　Morality；　Government；　and　they　alone；　the　positive　reality　and

pletion　of　Freedom。　Freedom　of　a　low　and　limited　order；　is　mere　caprice；　which　finds　its

exercise　in　the　sphere　of　particular　and　limited　desires。

§　41

Subjective　volition　…　Passion　…　is　that　which　sets　men　in　activity；　that　which　effects　〃practical〃

realisation。　The　Idea　is　the　inner　spring　of　action；　the　State　is　the　actually；　existing；　realised　moral

life。　For　it　is　the　Unity　of　the　universal；　essential　Will；　with　that　of　the　individual；　and　this　is

〃Morality。〃　The　Individual　living　in　this　unity　has　a　moral　life；　possesses　a　value　that　consists　in　this

substantiality　alone。　Sophocles　in　his　Antigone；　says；　〃The　divine　mands　are　not　of　yesterday；

nor　of　today；　no；　they　have　an　infinite　existence；　and　no　one　could　say　whence　they　came。〃　The

laws　of　morality　are　not　accidental；　but　are　the　essentially　Rational。　It　is　the　very　object　of　the

State　that　what　is　essential　in　the　practical　activity　of　men；　and　in　their　dispositions；　should　be　duly

recognised；　that　it　should　have　a　manifest　existence；　and　maintain　its　position。　It　is　the　absolute

interest　of　Reason　that　this　moral　Whole　should　exist；　and　herein　lies　the　justification　and　merit　of

heroes　who　have　founded　states；　…　however　rude　these　may　have　been。　In　the　history　of　the

World。；　only　those　peoples　can　e　under　our　notice　which　form　a　state。　For　it　must　be

understood　that　this　latter　is　the　realisation　of　Freedom；　i。e。　of　the　absolute　final　aim；　and　that　it

exists　for　its　own　sake。　It　must　further　be　understood　that　all　the　worth　which　the　human　being

possesses　…　all　spiritual　reality；　he　possesses　only　through　the　State。　For　his　spiritual　reality　consists

in　this；　that　his　own　essence　…　Reason　…　is　objectively　present　to　him；　that　it　possesses　objective

immediate　existence　for　him。　Thus　only　is　he　fully　conscious；　thus　only　is　he　a　partaker　of　morality　…

of　a　just　and　moral　social　and　political　life。　For　Truth　is　the　Unity　of　the　universal　and　subjective

Will；　and　the　Universal　is　to　be　found　in　the　State；　in　its　laws；　its　universal　and　rational

arrangements。　The　State　is　the　Divine　Idea　as　it　exists　on　Earth。　We　have　in　it；　therefore；　the

object　of　History　in　a　more　definite　shape　than　before；　that　in　which　Freedom　obtains　objectivity