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absolute other； and repudiates itself （for the opposite of the notion is an absolute opposite）； and
then out of this otherness comes to itself or comes to its notion。
Enlightenment； however； is merely this process； it is the activity of the notion in still unconscious
form； an activity which no doubt arrives at itself qua object； but takes this object for an external
other； and does not even know the nature of the notion； i。e。 does not know that it is the
undifferentiated； the self…identical； which absolutely divides itself。
As against belief； then； insight is the power of the notion in so far as this is the active process of
relating the moments lying apart from one another in belief； a way of relating them in which the
contradiction in them comes to light。 Herein lies the absolute right of the power which insight
exercises over belief； but the actuality on which it brings this power to bear lies just in the fact that
the believing consciousness is itself the notion and thus itself recognizes and accepts the opposite
which insight presents before it。 Insight； therefore； has and retains right against belief； because it
makes valid in belief what is necessary to belief itself； and what belief contains within it。
At first enlightenment emphasizes the moment that the notion is an act of consciousness； it
maintains in the face of belief that the absolute Being belief accepts is a Being of the believer's
consciousness qua a self； or that this absolute Being is produced by consciousness。 To the
believing mind its absolute Being； while it is in itself objective for the believer； is also and at the
same time not like a foreign thing standing therein； having come there no one knows bow or
whence。 The trust of belief consists just in finding itself as a particular personal consciousness in
absolute Being； and its obedience and service consist in producing； through its activity； that Being
as its own Absolute。 Enlightenment； strictly speaking； only reminds belief of this； if belief affirms
without qualification the ultimate nature （Ansich） of absolute Being to be something beyond the
action of consciousness；
But while enlightenment no doubt puts alongside the one…sidedness of belief the opposite moment；
viz。： — action of belief in contrast to being — and being is all belief thinks about here — and yet
does not itself in doing so bring those opposite thoughts together； enlightenment isolates the pure
moment of action； and declares that what belief takes to be per se ultimate （Ansich） is merely a
product of consciousness。 Isolated action； action opposed to this ultimate Being （Ansich）； is；
however； a contingent action； and； qua presentative activity； is a creating of fictions — presented
figurative ideas that have no being in themselves。 And this is how enlightenment regards the content
of belief。
Conversely； however； pure insight equally says the very opposite。 When insight lays stress on the
moment of otherness which the notion involves it declares the essential Reality for belief to be one
which does not in any way concern consciousness； is away beyond consciousness； foreign to it；
and unknown。 To belief； too； that Reality has the same character。 On one side belief trusts in it；
and gets； in doing so； the assurance of its own self； on the other side it is unsearchable in all its
ways and。 unattainable in its being。
Further； enlightenment maintains against the believing mind a right which the latter concedes； when
enlightenment treats the object of the believer's veneration as stone and wood； or； in short； some
finite anthropomorphic feature。 For； since this consciousness is divided within itself in having a
〃beyond〃 remote from actuality and an immediate present embodiment of that remote beyond；
there is also found in it； as a matter of fact； the view that sense…things have a value and significance
in and for themselves （an und für sich）。 But belief does not bring together these two ideas of
what is 〃in and for itself〃； viz。 that at one time what is 〃in and for itself〃 is for belief pure essential
Reality and at another time is an ordinary thing of sense。 Even its own pure consciousness is
affected by this last view； for the distinctions of its supersensuous world； because this is without
the notion； are a series of independent shapes and forms； and their activity is a happening； i。e。 they
exist merely in figurative presentation； and have the characteristic of sense…existence。
Enlightenment on its side isolates actuality in the same way； treating it as a reality abandoned by
spirit； isolates specific determinateness and makes it a fixed finite element； as if it were not a
moment in the spiritual process of the real itself； a something which is not nothing； nor possessed
of a being all its own； but evanescent and transitory。
It is clear that the same is the case with regard to the ground of knowledge。 The believing mind
itself recognizes an accidental knowledge； for in belief the mind adopts an attitude towards
contingencies； and absolute Being itself comes before belief in the form of a pictorial presentation
of an ordinary actual fact。 Consequently belief is also a certainty which does not carry the truth
within it； and it confesses itself to be an unsubstantial consciousness of this kind； holding of this
world and separated from the spirit that is self…assuring and assured of itself。 This moment；
however； belief forgets in its immediate spiritual knowledge of absolute Reality。
Enlightenment； however； which reminds belief of all this； thinks again merely of the contingency of
the knowledge and forgets the other — thinks only of the mediating process which takes effect
through an alien third term； and does not think of that process wherein the immediate is for itself its
own third term through which it mediates itself with the other； viz。 with itself。
Finally； on the view enlightenment takes of the action of belief； the rejection of enjoyment and
possessions is looked upon as wrong and purposeless。
As to the wrong thus done； enlightenment preserves its harmony with the believing mind in this： —
that belief itself acknowledges the actual reality of possessing property； keeping bold of it； and
enjoying it。 In insisting on its property； it behaves with all the more stubborn independence and
exclusiveness； and in its enjoyment with all the more frank self…abandonment； since its religious act
of giving up pleasure and property takes effect beyond the region of this actuality； and purchases
for it freedom to do as it likes so far as that other sphere is concerned。 This service； the service of
sacrificing natural activities and enjoyments； in point of fact has no truth； owing to this opposition。
The retention and the sacrifice subsist together side by side。 The sacrifice is merely a 〃sign〃 which
performs real sacrifice only as regards a small part； and hence in point of fact is only a figurative
idea of sacrifice。
As for purposiveness； enlightenment finds it pointless and stupid to throw away a possession in
order to feel and to prove oneself to be free from all possession； to renounce an enjoyment in
order to think and demonstra