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mysterious background； suppressed in dim recesses of the memory； in caves and
traditional imagery。 This background； reborn out of the mind which differentiates
itself to individual mentality； emerges into the daylight of knowing and is
tempered and transfigured into beauty and a free and unruffled ethical life。 Hence
it is in a world of this character that the principle of personal individuality arises；
though it is still not self…enclosed but kept in its ideal unity。 The result is that the
whole is divided into a group of particular national minds； ultimate decision is
ascribed not to the subjectivity of explicitly independent self…consciousness but to
a power standing above and outside it （see Remark to § 279）； on the other hand；
the due satisfaction of particular needs is not yet comprised in the sphere of
freedom but is relegated exclusively to a class of slaves。
§ 357。
（3） The Roman realm。
In this realm； differentiation is carried to its conclusion； and ethical life is
sundered without end into the extremes of the private self…consciousness of
persons on the one hand； and abstract universality on the other。 This opposition
begins in the clash between the substantial intuition of an aristocracy and the
principle of free personality in democratic form。 As the opposition grows； the first
of these opponents develops into superstition and the maintenance of heartless
self…seeking power； while the second becomes more and more corrupt until it
sinks into a rabble。 Finally； the whole is dissolved and the result is universal
misfortune and the destruction of ethical life。 National heroes die away into the
unity of a Pantheon； all individuals are degraded to the level of private persons
equal with one another； possessed of formal rights； and the only bond left to hold
them together is abstract insatiable self…will。
§ 358。
（4） The Germanic realm。
Mind and its world are thus both alike lost and plunged in the infinite grief of that
fate for which a people； the Jewish people； was held in readiness。 Mind is here
pressed back upon itself in the extreme of its absolute negativity。 This is the
absolute turning point； mind rises out of this situation and grasps the infinite
positivity of this its inward character； i。e。 it grasps the principle of the unity of the
divine nature and the human； the reconciliation of objective truth and freedom as
the truth and freedom appearing within self…consciousness and subjectivity； a
reconciliation with the fulfilment of which the principle of the north； the principle
of the Germanic peoples； has been entrusted。
§ 359。
This principle is first of all inward and abstract； it exists in feeling as faith； love；
and hope； the reconciliation and resolution of all contradiction。 It then discloses its
content； raising it to become actuality and self…conscious rationality； to become a
mundane realm proceeding from the heart； fidelity； and comradeship of free men；
a realm which in this its subjectivity is equally a realm of crude individual caprice
and barbarous manners。 This realm it sets over against a world of beyond； an
intellectual realm； whose content is indeed the truth of its （the principle's） mind；
but a truth not yet thought and so still veiled in barbarous imagery。 This world of
beyond； as the power of mind over the mundane heart； acts against the latter as a
compulsive and frightful force。
§ 360。
These two realms stand distinguished from one another though at the same time
they are rooted in a single unity and Idea。 Here their distinction is intensified to
absolute opposition and a stern struggle ensues in the course of which the realm
of mind lowers the place of its heaven to an earthly here and now； to a common
worldliness of fact and idea。 The mundane realm； on the other hand； builds up its
abstract independence into thought and the principle of rational being and
knowing； i。e。 into the rationality of right and law。 In this way their opposition
implicitly loses its marrow and disappears。 The realm of fact has discarded its
barbarity and unrighteous； caprice； while the realm of truth has abandoned the
world of beyond and its arbitrary force； so that the true reconciliation which
discloses the state as the image and actuality of reason has become objective。 In
the state； self…consciousness finds in an organic development the actuality of its
substantive knowing and willing； in religion； it finds the feeling and the
representation of this its own truth as an ideal essentiality； while in philosophic
science； it finds the free comprehension and knowledge of this truth as one and
the same in its mutually complementary manifestations； i。e。 in the state； in nature；
and in the ideal world。
The End