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of the ethical world we see attained those purposes which the previous insubstantial modes of
conscious life set before them。 What Reason apprehended only as an object has become
Self…consciousness； and what self…consciousness merely contained within it is here explicit true
reality。 What Observation knewan object given externally and picked up； and one in the
constitution of which the subject knowing had no shareis here a given ethical condition； a custom
found lying ready at hand； but a reality which is at the same time the deed and product of the
subject finding it。 The individual who seeks the 〃pleasure〃 of enjoying his particular individuality
finds it in the family life； and the 〃necessity〃（4） in which that pleasure passes away is his own
self…consciousness as a citizen of his nation。 Or； again； it is knowing the 〃law of his own heart〃（5）
as the law of all hearts； knowing the； consciousness of self to be the recognized and universal
ordinance of society： it is 〃virtue〃；（6） which enjoys the fruits of its own sacrifice； which brings about
what it sets out to do； viz。 to bring the essential nature into the light of the actual present；and its
enjoyment is this universal life。 Finally； consciousness of 〃fact as such〃 （der Sache selbst）（7） gets
satisfaction in the real substance； which contains and maintains in positive form the abstract
aspects of that empty category。 That substance finds a genuine content in the powers of the ethical
order； a content that takes the place of those insubstantial commands which the 〃healthy human
reason〃（8） wanted to give and to know： and in consequence thus gets a concrete inherently
determinate standard for 〃testing〃； not the laws； but what is done。
The whole is a stable equilibrium of all the parts； and each part a spirit in its native element； a spirit
wlich does not seek its satisfaction beyond itself； but has the satisfaction within itself for the reason
that itself is in this balanced equipoise with the whole。 This condition of stable equilibrium can；
doubtless； only be living by inequality arising within it； and being brought back again to equipoise
by Righteousness and Justice。 Justice； however； is neither an alien principle （Wesen） holding
somewhere remote from the present； nor the realization （unworthy of the name of justice） of
mutual malice； treachery； ingratitude； etc。； which； in the unintelligent way of chance and accident；
would fulfil the law by a kind of irrational connexion without any controlling idea； action by
commission and omission； without any consciousness of what was involved。 On the contrary；
being justice in human law； it brings back to the whole； to the universal life of society； what has
broken away separately from the harmony and equilibrium of the whole：the independent classes
and individuals。 In this way justice is the government of the nation； and is its all…pervading essential
life in a consciously present individual form； and is the personal self…conscious will of all。
That justice； however； which restores to equilibrium the universal when getting the mastery over
the particular individual； is similarly the simple single spirit of the individual who has suffered
wrong； it is not broken up into the two elements； one who has suffered wrong and a far…away
remote reality （Wesen）。 The individual himself is the power of the 〃nether〃 world； and that reality is
his 〃fury〃； wreaking vengeance upon him。（9） For his individuality； his blood still lives in the house；
his substance has a lasting actuality。 The wrong； which can be brought upon the individual in the
realm of the ethical world； consists merely in this； that a bare something by chance happens to him。
The power which perpetrates on the conscious individual this wrong of making him into a mere
thing is 〃nature〃 it is the universality not of the community； but the abstract universality of mere
existence。 And the particular individual； in wiping out the wrong suffered； turns not against the
communityfor he has not suffered at its handsbut against the latter。 As we saw；（10） the
consciousness of those who share the blood of the individual removes this wrong in such a way
that what has happened becomes rather a work of their own doing； and hence bare existence； the
last state； gets also to be something willed； and thus an object of gratification。
The ethical realm remains in this way permanently a world without blot or stain； a world untainted
by any internal dissension。 So； too； its process is an untroubled transition from one of its powers to
the other； in such a way that each preserves and produces the other。 We see it no doubt divided
into two ultimate elements and their realization： but their opposition is rather the confirming and
substantiation of one through the other； and where they directly come in contact with each other as
actual factors； their mediating common element is the immediate permeation of the one with the
other。 The one extreme； universal spirit conscious of itself； becomes； through the individuality of
man； linked together with its other extreme； its force and its element； with unconscious spirit。 On
the other hand； divine law is individualized； the unconscious spirit of the particular individual finds
its existence； in woman； through the mediation of whom the unconscious spirit comes out of its
unrealizedness into actuality； and rises out of the state of unknowing and unknown； into the
conscious realm of universal spirit。 The union of man with woman constitutes the operative
mediating agency for the whole； and constitutes the element which； while separated into the
extremes of divine and human law； is； at the same time； their immediate union。 This union； again；
turns both those first mediate connexions （Schlusse） into one and the same synthesis； and unites
into one process the twofold movement in opposite directions…one from reality to unreality； the
downward movement of human law； organized into independent members； to the danger and trial
of death；…the other； from unreality to reality； the upward movement of the law of the nether world
to the daylight of conscious existence。 Of these movements the former falls to man； the latter to
woman。
1。 The description here refers to the process of bodily corruption。
2。 i。e。 the earth？
3。 Cp。 Antigone； 1。 910。
4。 Cp。 p。 384 ff。
5。 Cp。 p。 391 ff。
6。 Cp。 p。 402 ff。
7。 Cp。 p。 419 ff。
8。 Cp。 p。 440 ff。
9。 The reference here is to Orestes。
10。 P。 471 sup。
b
Knowledge； Human & Divine：
Guilt and Destiny
IN the form presented by the opposition of elements in the realm just dealt with；
self…consciousness has not yet come to its rights as a single individuality。 Individuality there has； on
one side； the sense of merely universal will； on the other； of consanguinity of the family。 This
particular individual has merely the significance of shadowy unreality。 There is as yet no
performance of an act。 The act； however； is the realized self。 It breaks in upon the untroubled
stable organization and movement of the ethical world。 What there appears as ordinance