第一小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第19部分（第3页）

§　88

In　the　very　element　of　an　achievement　the　quality　of　generality；　of　thought；　is　contained；　without

thought　it　has　no　objectivity；　that　is　its　basis。　The　highest　point　in　the　development　of　a　people　is

this；　—　to　have　gained　a　conception　of　its　life　and　condition；　—　to　have　reduced　its　laws；　its　ideas

of　justice　and　morality　to　a　science；　for　in　this　unity　＇of　the　objective　and　subjective＇　lies　the　most

intimate　unity　that　Spirit　can　attain　to　in　and　with　itself。　In　its　work　it　is　employed　in　rendering　itself

an　object　of　its　own　contemplation；　but　it　cannot　develop　itself　objectively　in　its　essential　nature；

except　in　thinking　itself。

§　89

At　this　point；　then；　Spirit　is　acquainted　with　its　principles　—　the　general　character　of　its　acts。　But　at

the　same　time；　in　virtue　of　its　very　generality；　this　work　of　thought　is　different　in　point　of　form　from

the　actual　achievements　of　the　national　genius；　and　from　the　vital　agency　by　which　those

achievements　have　been　performed。　We　have　then　before　us　a　real　and　an　ideal　existence　of　the

Spirit　of　the　Nation。　If　we　wish　to　gain　the　general　idea　and　conception　of　what　the　Greeks　were；

we　find　it　in　Sophocles　and　Aristophanes；　in　Thucydides　and　Plato。　In　these　individuals　the　Greek

spirit　conceived　and　thought　itself。　This　is　the　profounder　kind　of　satisfaction　which　the　Spirit　of　a

people　attains；　but　it　is　“ideal；”　and　distinct　from　its　“real”　activity。

§　90

At　such　a　time；　therefore；　we　are　sure　to　see　a　people　finding　satisfaction　in　the　idea　of　virtue；

putting　talk　about　virtue　partly　side　by　side　with　actual　virtue；　but　partly　in　the　place　of　it。　On　the

other　hand　pure；　universal　thought；　since　its　nature　is　universality；　is　apt　to　bring　the　Special　and

Spontaneous　—　Belief；　Trust；　Customary　Morality　—　to　reflect　upon　itself；　and　its　primitive

simplicity；　to　show　up　the　limitation　with　which　it　is　fettered；　—　partly　suggesting　reasons　for

renouncing　duties；　partly　itself　demanding　reasons；　and　the　connection　of　such　requirements　with

Universal　Thought；　and　not　finding　that　connection；　seeking　to　impeach　the　authority　of　duty

generally；　as　destitute　of　a　sound　foundation。

§　91

At　the　same　time　the　isolation　of　individuals　from　each　other　and　from　the　Whole　makes　its

appearance；　their　aggressive　selfishness　and　vanity；　their　seeking　personal　advantage　and

consulting　this　at　the　expense　of　the　State　at　large。　That　inward　principle　in　transcending　its

outward　manifestations　is　subjective　also　in　form　—　viz。；　selfishness　and　corruption　in　the　unbound

passions　and　egotistic　interests　of　men。