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consciousness is the sphere into which spirit rises： but it is not only the element of faith； but of the
notion as well。 Consequently both appear on the scene together at the same time； and the former
comes before us only in antithesis to the latter。
I。 a
Culture & its Realm of Actual Reality （1）
THE spirit of this world is spiritual essence permeated by a self…consciousness which knows itself
to be directly present as a self…existent particular； and knows that essence as an objective actuality
over against itself。 But the existence of this world； as also the actuality of self…consciousness；
depends on the process that self…consciousness divests itself of its personality； by so doing creates
its world； and treats it as something alien and external； of which it must now take possession。 But
the renunciation of its self…existence is itself the production of the actuality； and in doing so；
therefore； self…consciousness ipso facto makes itself master of this world。
To put the matter otherwise； self…consciousness is only something definite； it only has real
existence； so far as it alienates itself from itself。 By doing so； it puts itself in the position of
something universal； and this its universality is its validity； establishes it； and is its actuality。 This
equality of the self with all selves is； therefore； not the equality that was found in the case of right；
self…consciousness does not here； as there； get immediate validity and acknowledgment merely
because it is； on the contrary； its claim to be valid rests on its having made itself； by that mediating
process of self…alienation； conform to what is universal。 The spiritless formal universality which
characterizes the sphere of right takes up every natural form of character as well as of existence；
and sanctions and establishes them。 The universality which holds good here； however； is one that
has undergone development； and for that reason it is concrete and actual。
（1） Culture as the Estrangement of Natural Existence
The means； then； whereby an individual gets objective validity and concrete actuality here is the
formative process of Culture。 The estrangement on the part of spirit from its natural existence is
here the individual's true and original nature； his very substance。 The relinquishment of this natural
state is； therefore； both his purpose and his mode of existence； it is at the same time the mediating
process； the transition of the thought…constituted substance to concrete actuality； as well as；
conversely； the transition of determinate individuality to its essential constitution。 This individuality
moulds itself by culture to what it inherently is； and only by so doing is it then something per se and
possessed of concrete existence。 The extent（2） of its culture is the measure of its reality and its
power。 Although the self； qua this particular self； knows itself here to be real； yet its concrete
realization consists solely in cancelling and transcending the natural self。 The original
determinateness of its nature is； therefore； reduced to a matter of quantity； to a greater or less
energy of will； a non…essential principle of distinction。 But purpose and content of the self belong to
the universal substance alone； and can only be something universal。 The specific particularity of a
given nature； which becomes purpose and content； is something powerless and unreal： it is a 〃kind
of being〃 which exerts itself foolishly and in vain to attain embodiment： it is the contradiction of
giving reality to the bare particular； while reality is； ipso facto； something universal。 If； therefore；
individuality is falsely held to consist in particularity of nature and character； then the real world
contains no individualities and characters； individuals are all alike for one another； the pretence
（vermeint） of individuality in that case is precisely the mere presumptive （gemeint） existence
which has no permanent place in this world where only renunciation of self and； therefore； only
universality get actual reality。 What is presumed or conjectured to be （Das Gemeinte） passes；
therefore； simply for what it is； for a kind of being。 〃Kind〃 is not quite the same as Espèce；（3） 〃the
most horrible of all nicknames； for it signifies mediocrity； and denotes the highest degree of
contempt〃。（4） 〃A kind〃 and 〃to be good of its kind〃 are German expressions； which add an air of
honesty to this meaning； as if it were not so badly meant and intended after all； or which； indeed；
do not yet involve a clear consciousness of what 〃kind〃 and what culture and reality are。
That which； in reference to the single individual； appears as his culture； is the essential moment of
spiritual substance as such； viz。： the direct transition of its ideal； thought…constituted； universality
into actual reality； or otherwise put； culture is the single soul of this substance； in virtue of which the
essentially inherent （Ansich） becomes something explicitly acknowledged； and assumes definite
objective existence。 The process in which an individuality cultivates itself is； therefore； ipso facto；
the development of individuality qua universal objective being； that is to say； it is the development
of the actual world。 This world； although it has come into being by means of individuality； is in the
eyes of self…consciousness something that is directly and primarily estranged； and； for
self…consciousness； takes on the form of a fixed； undisturbed reality。 But at the same time
self…consciousness is sure this is its own substance； and proceeds to take it under control。 This
power over its substance it acquires by culture； which； looked at from this aspect； appears as
self…consciousness making itself conform to reality； and doing so to the extent permitted by the
energy of its original character and talents。 What seems here to be the individual's power and
force； bringing the substance under it； and thereby doing away with that substance is the same
thing as the actualization of the substance。 For the power of the individual consists in conforming
itself to that substance； i。e。 in emptying itself of its own self； and thus establishing itself as the
objectively existing substance。 Its culture and its own reality are； therefore； the process of making
the substance itself actual and concrete。
The self is conscious of being actual only as transcended； as cancelled。（5） The self does not here
involve the unity of consciousness of self and object； rather this object is negative as regards the
self。 By means of the self qua inner soul of the process； the substance is so moulded and worked
up in its various moments； that one opposite puts life into the other； each opposite； by its alienation
from the other； gives the other stability； and similarly gets stability from the other。 At the same time；
each moment has its own definite nature； in the sense of having an insuperable worth and
significance； and has a fixed reality as against the other。 The process of thought fixes this distinction
in the most general manner possible； by means of the absolute opposition of 〃good〃 and 〃bad〃；
which are poles asunder and can in no way become one