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acknowledge its guilt。
Because of our sufferings we acknowledge we have erred。（2）
To acknowledge this is expressly to indicate that the severance between ethical purpose and
actuality has been clone away； it means the return to the ethical frame of mind； which knows that
nothing counts but right。 Thereby； however； the agent surrenders his character and the reality of his
self； and has utterly collapsed。 His being lies in belonging to his ethical law； as his substance； in
acknowledging the opposite law； however； he has ceased to find his substance in this law； and
instead of reality this has become an unreality； a mere scntiment； a frame of mind。 The substance
no doubt appears as the 〃pathic〃 element（3） in the individuality； and the individuality appears as the
factor which animates the substance； and hence stands above it。
But the substance is a 〃pathic〃 element which is at the same time his character； the ethical
individuality is directly and inherently one with this its universal； exists in it alone； and is incapable
of surviving the destruction which this ethical power suffers at the hands of its opposite。
This individuality； however； has all the same the certainty that that individuality； whose 〃pathic〃
element is this opposite power ＇the opposed law＇； suffers no more harm than it has inflicted。 The
opposition of the ethical powers to one another； and the process of the individualities setting up
these powers in life and action； have reached their true end only in so far as both sides undergo the
same destruction。 For neither of the powers has any advantage over the other that it should be a
more essential moment of the substance common to both。 The fact of their being equally and to the
same degree essential； and subsisting independently beside each other； means their having no
separate self； in the act they have a self…nature； but a different self； — which contradicts the unity of
the self and cancels their claim to independent right； and thus brings about their necessary
destruction。 Character too； in part； looking at its 〃pathic〃 element； the substance； belongs to one
alone； in part； when we look at the aspect of knowledge； the one character like the other is
divided into a conscious element and an unconscious： and since each itself calls forth this
opposition； and the want of knowledge is by the act also its doing； each falls into the guilt which
consumes it。 The victory of one power and its character； and the defeat of the other side； would
thus be merely the part and the incomplete work； which steadily advances till the equilibrium
between the two is attained。 It is in the equal subjection of both sides that absolute right is first
accomplished； and the ethical substance； as the negative force devouring both sides； in other
words omnipotent and righteous Destiny； makes its appearance。
If both powers are taken according to their specific content and its individualization； we have the
scene presented of a contest between them as individuated。 On its formal side； this is the struggle
of the ethical order and of self…consciousness with unconscious nature and a contingency due to
this nature。 The latter has a right as against the former； because this is only objective spirit； merely
in immediate unity with its substance。 On the side of content； the struggle is the rupture of divine
and human law。 The youth goes forth from the unconscious life of the family and becomes the
individuality of the community ＇i。e。 Ruler＇。 But that he still shares the natural life from which he has
torn himself away is seen in the fact that he emerges there — from only to find his claim affected by
the contingency that there are two brothers（4） who with equal right take possession of the
community；（5） the inequality due to the one having been born earlier and the other later； an
inequality which is a natural difference； has no importance for them when they enter the ethical life
of society。 But government； as the single soul； the self of the national spirit； does not admit of a
duality of individuality； and in contrast to the ethical necessity of this unity； nature appears as by
accident providing more than one。 These two ＇brothers＇； therefore； become disunited； and their
equal right in regard to the power of the state is destructive to both； for they are equally wrong。
Humanly considered； he has committed the crime who； not being in actual possession； attacks the
community； at the head of which the other stood。 While again he has right on his side who knew
how to seize the other merely qua particular individual； detached from the community； and who
banished him； while thus powerless； out of the community； he has merely laid hands on the
individual as such； not the community； not the essential nature of human right。 The community；
attacked and defended from a point of view which is merely particular； maintains itself； and both
brothers find their destruction reciprocally through one another。 For individuality； which involves
peril to the whole in the maintenance of its own self…existence （Fürsichseyn）； has thrust its own
self out of the community； and is disintegrated in its own nature。 The community； however； will do
honour to the one who is found on its side； the government； the reestablished singleness of the self
of the community； will punish by depriving of the last honour him who already proclaimed its
devastation on the walls of the city。 He who came to affront the highest spiritual form of conscious
life； the spirit of the community； must be stripped of the honour of his entire and complete nature；
the honour due to the spirit of the departed。（6）
But if the universal thus lightly knocks off the highest point of its pyramid； and doubtless triumphs
victoriously over the family； the rebellious principle of individuation； it has thereby merely put itself
into conflict with divine law； the self…conscious with the unconscious spirit。 For the latter； this
unconscious spirit； is the other essential power； and therefore the power undestroyed； and only
insulted by the former。 It finds； however； only a bloodless shade to lend it help towards actually
carrying itself out in the face of that masterful and openly enunciated law。 Being the law of
weakness and of darkness； it therefore gives way； to begin with； before law which has force and
publicity； for the strength of the former is effective in the nether realm； not on earth and in the light
of day。 But the actual and concrete； which has taken away from what is inward its honour and its
power； has thereby consumed its own real nature。 The spirit which is manifest to the light of day
has the roots of its power in the lower world： the certainty felt by a nation； a certainty which is sure
of itself and which makes itself assured； finds the truth of its oath binding all its members into one；
solely in the mute unconscious substance of all； in the waters of forgetfulness。 In consequence； the
fulfilment of the public spirit turns round into its opposite； and learns that its supreme right is
supreme wrong； its victory rather its own defeat。 The slain； whose right is injured； knows；
therefore； how to find means of v