第一小说网

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第13部分（第1页）

that　for　legislative　purposes　generally；　the　people　should　be　represented　by　deputies。　The

so…called　Representative　Constitution　is　that　form　of　government　with　which　we　connect　the　idea

of　a　free　constitution；　and　this　notion　has　bee　a　rooted　prejudice。　On　this　theory　People　and

Government　are　separated。　But　there　is　a　perversity　in　this　antithesis；　an　ill…intentioned　ruse

designed　to　insinuate　that　the　People　are　the　totality　of　the　State。　Besides；　the　basis　of　this　view　is

the　principle　of　isolated　individuality　…　the　absolute　validity　of　the　subjective　will　…　a　dogma　which

we　have　already　investigated。　The　great　point　is；　that　Freedom　in　its　Ideal　conception　has　not

subjective　will　and　caprice　for　its　principle；　but　the　recognition　of　the　universal　will；　and　that　the

process　by　which　Freedom　is　realised　is　the　free　development　of　its　successive　stages。　The

subjective　will　is　a　merely　formal　determination　…　a　carte　blanche　…　not　including　what　it　is　that　is

willed。　Only　the　rational　will　is　that　universal　principle　which　independently　determines　and

unfolds　its　own　being；　and　develops　its　successive　elemental　phases　as　organic　members。　Of　this

Gothic…cathedral　architecture　the　ancients　knew　nothing。

§　50

At　an　earlier　stage　of　the　discussion；　we　established　the　two　elemental　considerations：　first；　the

idea　of　freedom　as　the　absolute　and　final　aim；　secondly；　the　means　for　realising　it；　i。e。　the

subjective　side　of　knowledge　and　will；　with　its　life；　movement；　and　activity。　We　then　recognised

the　State　as　the　moral　Whole　and　the　Reality　of　Freedom；　and　consequently　as　the　objective　unity

of　these　two　elements。　For　although　we　make　this　distinction　into　two　aspects　for　our

consideration；　it　must　be　remarked　that　they　are　intimately　connected；　and　that　their　connection　is

involved　in　the　idea　of　each　when　examined　separately。　We　have；　on　the　one　hand；　recognised　the

Idea　in　the　definite　form　of　Freedom　conscious　of　and　willing　itself；　…　having　itself　alone　as　its

object：　involving　at　the　same　time；　the　pure　and　simple　Idea　of　Reason；　and　likewise；　that　which

we　have　called　subject　…　self…consciousness　…　Spirit　actually　existing　in　the　World。　If；　on　the　other

hand；　we　consider　Subjectivity；　we　find　that　subjective　knowledge　and　will　is　Thought。　But　by　the

very　act　of　thoughtful　cognition　and　volition；　I　will　the　universal　object　…　the　substance　of　absolute

Reason。　We　observe；　therefore；　an　essential　union　between　the　objective　side　…　the　Idea；　…　and　the

subjective　side　…　the　personality　that　conceives　and　wills　it。　…　The　objective　existence　of　this　union

is　the　State；　which　is　therefore　the　basis　and　centre　of　the　other　concrete　elements　of　the　life　of　a

people；　…　of　Art；　of　Law；　of　Morals；　of　Religion；　of　Science。　All　the　activity　of　Spirit　has　only　this

object　…　the　being　conscious　of　this　union；　i。e。；　of　its　own　Freedom。　Among　the　forms　of　this