第一小说网

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第14部分（第3页）

is　altogether　undetermined。

§　61

The　principle　of　Development　involves　also　the　existence　of　a　latent　germ　of　being　—　a　capacity

or　potentiality　striving　to　realise　itself。　This　formal　conception　finds　actual　existence　in　Spirit；　which

has　the　History　of　the　World　for　its　theatre；　its　possession；　and　the　sphere　of　its　realisation。　It　is　not

of　such　a　nature　as　to　be　tossed　to　and　fro　amid　the　superficial　play　of　accidents；　but　is　rather　the

absolute　arbiter　of　things；　entirely　unmoved　by　contingencies；　which；　indeed；　it　applies　and

manages　for　its　own　purposes。　Development；　however；　is　also　a　property　of　organised　natural

objects。　Their　existence　presents　itself；　not　as　an　exclusively　dependent　one；　subjected　to　external

changes；　but　as　one　which　expands　itself　in　virtue　of　an　external　unchangeable　principle；　a　simple

essence；　—　whose　existence；　i。e。；　as　a　germ；　is　primarily　simple；　—　but　which　subsequently

develops　a　variety　of　parts；　that　bee　involved　with　other　objects；　and　consequently　live

through　a　continuous　process　of　changes；　—　a　process　nevertheless；　that　results　in　the　very

contrary　of　change；　and　is　even　transformed　into　a　vis　conservatrix　of　the　organic　principle；　and

the　form　embodying　it。　Thus　the　organised　individuum　produces　itself；　it　expands　itself　actually　to

what　it　was　always　potentially：　So　Spirit　is　only　that　which　it　attains　by　its　own　efforts；　it　makes

itself　actually　what　it　always　was　potentially。　—　That　development　（of　natural　organisms）　takes

place　in　a　direct；　unopposed；　unhindered　manner。　Between　the　Idea　and　its　realisation　—　the

essential　constitution　of　the　original　germ　and　the　conformity　to　it　of　the　existence　derived　from　it

—　no　disturbing　influence　can　intrude。　But　in　relation　to　Spirit　it　is　quite　otherwise。　The　realisation

of　its　Idea　is　mediated　by　consciousness　and　will；　these　very　faculties　are；　in　the　first　instance；　sunk

in　their　primary　merely　natural　life；　the　first　object　and　goal　of　their　striving　is　the　realisation　of　their

merely　natural　destiny；　—　but　which；　since　it　is　Spirit　that　animates　it；　is　possessed　of　vast

attractions　and　displays　great　power　and　＇moral＇　richness。　Thus　Spirit　is　at　war　with　itself　；　it　has　to

overe　itself　as　its　most　formidable　obstacle。　That　development　which　in　the　sphere　of　Nature　is

a　peaceful　growth；　is　in　that　of　Spirit；　a　severe；　a　mighty　conflict　with　itself。　What　Spirit　really

strives　for　is　the　realisation　of　its　Ideal　being；　but　in　doing　so；　it　hides　that　goal　from　its　own　vision；

and　is　proud　and　well　satisfied　in　this　alienation　from　it。

§　62

Its　expansion；　therefore；　does　not　present　the　harmless　tranquillity　of　mere　growth；　as　does　that　of

organic　life；　but　a　stern　reluctant　working　against　itself。　It　exhibits；　moreover；　not　the　mere　formal