第一小说网

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第8部分（第1页）

particularisation；　for　the　universal　absolute　being；　it　is　the　side　of　its　definite　existence；　the　sphere

of　its　formal　reality；　the　sphere　of　the　reverence　paid　to　God。　—　To　prehend　the　absolute

connection　of　this　antithesis；　is　the　profound　task　of　metaphysics。　This　Limitation　originates　all

forms　of　particularity　of　whatever　kind。　The　formal　volition　＇of　which　we　have　spoken＇　wills　itself；

desires　to　make　its　own　personality　valid　in　all　that　it　purposes　and　does：　even　the　pious　individual

wishes　to　be　saved　and　happy。　This　pole　of　the　antithesis；　existing　for　itself；　is　—　in　contrast　with

the　Absolute　Universal　Being　—　a　special　separate　existence；　taking　cognisance　of　speciality　only；

and　willing　that　alone。　In　short　it　plays　its　part　in　the　region　of　mere　phenomena。　This　is　the　sphere

of　particular　purposes；　in　effecting　which　individuals　exert　themselves　on　behalf　of　their　individuality

—　give　it　full　play　and　objective　realisation。　This　is　also　the　sphere　of　happiness　and　its　opposite。

He　is　happy　who　finds　his　condition　suited　to　his　special　character；　will；　and　fancy；　and　so　enjoys

himself　in　that　condition。　The　History　of　the　World　is　not　the　theatre　of　happiness。　Periods　of

happiness　are　blank　pages　in　it；　for　they　are　periods　of　harmony；　—　periods　when　the　antithesis　is

in　abeyance。　Reflection　on　self；　—　the　Freedom　above　described　—　is　abstractly　defined　as　the

formal　element　of　the　activity　of　the　absolute　Idea。　The　realising　activity　of　which　we　have　spoken

is　the　middle　term　of　the　Syllogism；　one　of　whose　extremes　is　the　Universal　essence；　the　Idea；

which　reposes　in　the　peralia　of　Spirit；　and　the　other；　the　plex　of　external　things；　objective

matter。　That　activity　is　the　medium　by　which　the　universal　latent　principle　is　translated　into　the

domain　of　objectivity。

§　29

I　will　endeavour　to　make　what　has　been　said　more　vivid　and　clear　by　examples。

The　building　of　a　house　is；　in　the　first　instance；　a　subjective　aim　and　design。　On　the　other　hand　we

have；　as　means；　the　several　substances　required　for　the　work；　—　Iron；　Wood；　Stones。　The

elements　are　made　use　of　in　working　up　this　material：　fire　to　melt　the　iron；　wind　to　blow　the　fire；

water　to　set　wheels　in　motion；　in　order　to　cut　the　wood；　&c。　The　result　is；　that　the　wind；　which　has

helped　to　build　the　house；　is　shut　out　by　the　house；　so　also　are　the　violence　of　rains　and　floods；

and　the　destructive　powers　of　fire；　so　far　as　the　house　is　made　fire…proof。　The　stones　and　beams

obey　the　law　of　gravity；　—　press　downwards；　—　and　so　high　walls　are　carried　up。　Thus　the

elements　are　made　use　of　in　accordance　with　their　nature；　and　yet　to　co…operate　for　a　product；　by

which　their　operation　is　limited。　Thus　the　passions　of　men　are　gratified；　they　develop　themselves

and　their　aims　in　accordance　with　their　natural　tendencies；　and　build　up　the　edifice　of　human

society；　thus　fortifying　a　position　for　Right　and　Order　against　themselves。

§　30

The　connection　of　events　above　indicated；　involves　also　the　fact；　that　in　history　an　additional　result

is　monly　produced　by　human　actions　beyond　that　which　they　aim　at　and　obtain　—　that　which

they　immediately　recognise　and　desire。　They　gratify　their　own　interest；　but　something　farther　is

thereby　acplished；　latent　in　the　actions　in　question；　though　not　present　to　their　consciousness；

and　not　included　in　their　design。　An　analogous　example　is　offered　in　the　case　of　a　man　who；　from　a

feeling　of　revenge；　—　perhaps　not　an　unjust　one；　but　produced　by　injury　on　the　others　part；　—

burns　that　other　mans　house。　A　connection　is　immediately　established　between　the　deed　itself　and