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its confident security therein； and gone into itself。 Partly； again； that reality rests on its organization
into a plurality of rights and duties； as also on its organized distribution into the spheres of the
various classes； each with its particular way of acting which co…operates to form the whole； and
hence rests on the fact that the individual is contented with the limitation of his existence； and has
not yet grasped the unrestricted thought of his free self。 But that serene immediate confidence in
the substance of this ethical life turns back into trust in self and certainty of self； and the plurality of
rights and duties； as well as the restricted particular action this involves； is the same dialectic
process in the sphere of the ethical life as the plurality of 〃things〃and their various 〃qualities〃 — a
process which only comes to rest and stability in the simplicity of spirit certain of self
The complete fulfilment of the ethical life in free self…consciousness； and the destined
consummation （Schicksal） of the ethical world； are therefore that individuality which has entered
into itself； the condition is one of absolute levity on the part of the ethical spirit； it has dissipated
and resolved into itself all the firmly established distinctions constituting its own stability； and the
separate spheres of its own articulated organization and； being perfectly sure of itself； has
attained to boundless cheerfulness of heart and the freest enjoyment of itself。 This simple certainly
of spirit within itself has a double meaning； it is quiet stability and solid truth； as well as absolute
unrest； and the disappearance of the ethical order。 It turns round； however； into the latter； for the
truth of the ethical spirit lies primarily just in this substantial objectivity and trust； in which the self
does not know itself as free individual； and which； therefore； in this inner subjectivity； in the self
becoming free； falls into ruins。 Since then its trust is broken； and the substance of the nation
cracked； spirit； which was the connecting medium of unstable extremes； has now come forward as
an extreme — that of self…consciousness grasping itself as essential and ultimate。 This is spirit
certain within itself； which mourns over the loss of its world； and now out of the purity of self
produces its own essential being； raised above actual reality。
At such an epoch art in absolute form（2） comes on the scene。 At the earlier stage it is instinctive in
its operation； its operation is steeped in existence； works its way out of existence and works right
into the existent； it does not find its substance in the free life of an ethical order； and hence； too； as
regards the self operating does not exercise free spiritual activity。
Later on； spirit goes beyond art in order to gain its higher manifestation； viz。 that of being not
merely the substance born and produced out of the self； but of being。 in its manifestation as object；
this very self； it seeks at that higher level not merely to bring forth itself out of its own notion； but to
have its very notion as its shape； so that the notion and the work of art produced may know each
other reciprocally as one and the same。（3）
Since； then； the ethical substance has withdrawn from its objective existence into its pure
self…consciousness； this is the aspect of the notion； or the activity with which spirit brings itself forth
as object。 It is pure form； because the individual in ethical obedience and service has so worked
off every unconscious existence and every fixed determination； as the substance has itself become
this fluid and undifferentiated essence。 This form is the night in which the substance was betrayed；
and made itself subject。 It is out of this night of pure certainty of self that the ethical spirit rises
again in a shape freed from nature and its own immediate existence。
The existence of the pure notion into which spirit has fled from its bodily shape； is an individual；
which spirit selects as the vessel for its sorrow。 Spirit acts in this individual as his universal and his
power； from which he suffers violence； as his element of 〃Pathos〃； by having given himself over to
which his self…consciousness loses freedom。 But that positive power belonging to the universal is
overcome by the pure self of the individual； the negative power。 This pure activity； conscious of its
inalienable force； wrestles with the unembodied essential being。 Becoming its master； this negative
activity has turned the element of pathos into its own material； and given itself its content； and this
unity comes out as a work； universal spirit individualized and consciously presented。
1。 Greek religion。
2。 The religion of pure beauty。
3。 This paragraph may be regarded as a parenthetical note。
a
The Abstract Work of Art
THE first work of art is； because immediate； abstract and particular。 As regards itself； it has to
move away from this immediate and objective phase towards self…consciousness； while； on the
other side； the latter for itself endeavours in the 〃cult〃 to do away with the distinction； which it at
first gives itself in contrast to its own spirit； and by so doing to produce a work of art inherently
endowed with life。
The first way in which the artistic spirit keeps as far as possible removed from each other its shape
and its active consciousness； is immediate in character — the shape assumed is there as a 〃thing〃 in
general。 It breaks up into the distinction of individualness which has the shape of the self； and
universality； which presents the inorganic nature in reference to the shape adopted； and is its
environment and habitation。 This shape assumed obtains its pure form； the form belonging to spirit；
by the whole being raised into the sphere of the pure notion。 It is not the crystal； belonging as we
saw to the level of understanding； a form which housed and covered a lifeless element； or is shone
upon externally by a soul。 Nor； again； is it that commingling of
the forms of nature and thought； which first arose in connexion with plants； thought's activity here
being still an imitation。 Rather the notion strips off the remnant of root； branches； and leaves； still
clinging to the forms； purifies the forms； and makes them into figures in which the crystal's straight
lines and surfaces are raised into incommensurable relations； so that the animation of the organic is
taken up into the abstract form of understanding； and； at the same time； its essential
nature…incommensurability…is preserved for understanding。 The indwelling god； however； is the
black stone extracted from the animal encasement；（1） and suffused with the light of consciousness。
The human form strips off the animal character with which it was mixed up。 The animal form is for
the god merely an accidental vestment； the animal appears alongside its true form；（2） and has no
longer a value on its own account； but has sunk into being a significant sign of something else； has
become a mere symbol。 By that very fact； the form assumed by the god in itself casts off even the
restrictions of the natural