第一小说网

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第7部分（第3页）

more　prehensive。　The　History　of　the　World　begins　with　its　general　aim　—　the　realisation　of　the

Idea　of　Spirit　—　only　in　an　implicit　form　（an　sich）　that　is；　as　Nature；　a　hidden；　most　profoundly

hidden；　unconscious　instinct；　and　the　whole　process　of　History　（as　already　observed）；　is　directed

to　rendering　this　unconscious　impulse　a　conscious　one。　Thus　appearing　in　the　form　of　merely

natural　existence；　natural　will　—　that　which　has　been　called　the　subjective　side；　—　physical　craving；

instinct；　passion；　private　interest；　as　also　opinion　and　subjective　conception；　—　spontaneously

present　themselves　at　the　very　mencement。　This　vast　congeries　of　volitions；　interests　and

activities；　constitute　the　instruments　and　means　of　the　World…Spirit　for　attaining　its　object；　bringing

it　to　consciousness；　and　realising　it。　And　this　aim　is　none　other　than　finding　itself　—　ing　to　itself

—　and　contemplating　itself　in　concrete　actuality。　But　that　those　manifestations　of　vitality　on　the　part

of　individuals　and　peoples；　in　which　they　seek　and　satisfy　their　own　purposes；　are；　at　the　same

time；　the　means　and　instruments　of　a　higher　and　broader　purpose　of　which　they　know　nothing；　—

which　they　realise　unconsciously；　…　　might　be　made　a　matter　of　question；　rather　has　been

questioned；　and　in　every　variety　of　form　negatived；　decried　and　contemned　as　mere　dreaming　and

“Philosophy。”　But　on　this　point　I　announced　my　view　at　the　very　outset；　and　asserted　our

hypothesis；　—　which；　however；　　of　a　legitimate　inference；　—

and　our　belief；　that　Reason　governs　the　world；　and　has　consequently　governed　its　history。　In

relation　to　this　independently　universal　and　substantial　existence　—　all　else　is　subordinate；

subservient　to　it；　and　the　means　for　its　development。　—　The　Union　of　Universal　Abstract　Existence

generally　with　the　Individual；　…　the　Subjective　—　that　this　alone　is　Truth；　belongs　to　the　department

of　speculation；　and　is　treated　in　this　general　form　in　Logic。　—　But　in　the　process　of　the　Worlds

History　itself；　—　as　still　inplete；　—　the　abstract　final　aim　of　history　is　not　yet　made　the　distinct

object　of　desire　and　interest。　While　these　limited　sentiments　are　still　unconscious　of　the　purpose

they　are　fulfilling；　the　universal　principle　is　implicit　in　them；　and　is　realising　itself　through　them。　The

question　also　assumes　the　form　of　the　union　of　Freedom　and　Necessity；　the　latent　abstract

process　of　Spirit　being　regarded　as　Necessity；　while　that　which　exhibits　itself　in　the　conscious　will

of　men；　as　their　interest；　belongs　to　the　domain　of　Freedom。　As　the　metaphysical　connection　（i。e。

the　connection　in　the　Idea）　of　these　forms　of　thought；　belongs　to　Logic；　it　would　be　out　of　place　to

analyse　it　here。　The　chief　and　cardinal　points　only　shall　be　mentioned。

§　28

Philosophy　shows　that　the　Idea　advances　to　an　infinite　antithesis；　that；　viz。　between　the　Idea　in　its

free；　universal　form　—　in　which　it　exists　for　itself　—　and　the　contrasted　form　of　abstract

introversion；　reflection　on　itself；　which　is　formal　existence…for…self；　personality；　formal　freedom；

such　as　belongs　to　Spirit　only。　The　universal　Idea　exists　thus　as　the　substantial　totality　of　things　on

the　one　side；　and　as　the　abstract　essence　of　free　volition　on　the　other　side。　This　reflection　of　the

mind　on　itself　is　individual　self…consciousness　—　the　polar　opposite　of　the　Idea　in　its　general　form；

and　therefore　existing　in　absolute　Limitation。　This　polar　opposite　is　consequently　limitation；

particularisation；　for　the　universal　absolute　being；　i