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of emotion this individual consciousness has the sense of being merely a tune； an abstract moment。
In work and enjoyment。 which are the realization of this unsubstantial existence； it can readily
forget itself； and the consciousness of its own proper life found in this realization is overborne by
grateful recognition； But this overthrow of its proper distinctiveness is in truth a return of
consciousness into itself； and moreover into itself as the general reality。
This third attitude； wherein this genuine reality is one term； consists in so relating this reality to
absolute universal Being； as to show it to be mere nothingness。 （8） The course of this relation we
have still to consider。
To begin with； as regards the contrasted relation of consciousness； in which its reality is taken to
be immediately naught； its actual performance thus becomes a doing of nothing at all； its enjoyment
becomes a feeling of its own unhappiness。 In consequence； activity and enjoyment lose all
universal content and significance； for in that case they would have a substantiality of their own：
and both withdraw into the state of particularity； to which consciousness is directed in order to
cancel them。 Consciousness discovers itself as this concrete particular in the functions of animal
life。 These latter； instead of being performed unconsciously and naturally as something which； per
se； is of no significance； and can acquire no importance and essential value for spirit；…these latter；
since it is in them that the enemy is seen in his proper and peculiar shape； are rather an object of
strenuous concern and serious occupation； and become precisely the most important
consideration。 （9） Since； however this enemy creates itself in its very defeat； consciousness； by
giving the enemy a fixedness of being and of meaning； instead of getting rid of him； really never
gets away from him and finds itself constantly defiled。 And since； at the same time； this object of its
exertions； instead of being something essential； is the very meanest； instead of being a universal； is
the merest particular — we have here before us merely a personality confined within its narrow self
and its petty activity； a personality brooding over itself； as unfortunate as it is pitiably destitute。
But all the same both of these； both the feeling of its misfortune and the poverty of its own action；
are points of connection to which to attach the consciousness of its unity with the unchangeable。
For the attempted immediate destruction of its actual existence is affected through the thought of
the unchangeable and takes place in this relation to the unchangeable。 The mediate relation
constitutes the essence of the negative process； in which this consciousness directs itself against its
particularity of being； which； however； qua relation； is at the same time in itself positive； and will
bring this its unity to light as an objective fact for this consciousness itself。
This mediate relation is consequently a connected inferential process （Schluss）； in which
particularity； establishing itself at first in opposition to the inherent essence； is bound together and
united with this other term only through a third term。 Through this middle term the one extreme；
unchangeable consciousness； has a being for the unessential consciousness； in which； at the same
time； is also involved that the latter likewise has a being for the former； solely through that middle
term； and this middle term is thus one which presents both extremes to one another； and acts as
the minister of each in turn in dealing with the other。 This medium is itself a conscious being； for it is
an action mediating consciousness as such； the content of this action is the destruction and
annihilation； which consciousness has in view in dealing with its particularity。
In the middle term； then； this consciousness gets freed from action and enjoyment； in the sense of
its own action and enjoyment。 It puts away from itself； qua self…existent extreme； the substance of
its will； and throws on to the mediating term； or the ministering agency；（10） its own proper
freedom of decision； and herewith the guilt of its own act。 This mediator； being in direct
communication with the unchangeable Being； renders service by advising what is just and right。
The act； since this follows upon obedience to a deliverance enunciated by another； ceases； as
regards the performance or the willing of the act； to be the agent's own proper deed。 There is still
left； however； to the subordinate consciousness； its objective aspect； namely； the fruit of its labour；
and enjoyment。 These； therefore； it casts away as well； and just as it disclaimed its own will； so it
contemns such reality as it received in work and in enjoyment。 It renounces these； partly as being
the accomplished truth of its self…conscious independence； when it seeks to do something quite
foreign to itself； thinking and speaking what； for it； has no sense or meaning；（11） partly； too； as
being external property — when it demits somewhat of the possession acquired through its toil。 It
also gives up the enjoyment it had — when with its fastings and its mortifications it once more
absolutely denies itself that enjoyment。
Through these moments — the negative abandonment first of its own right and power of decision；
then of its property and enjoyment； and finally the positive moment of carrying on what it does not
understand…it deprives itself； completely and in truth； of the consciousness of inner and outer
freedom； or reality in the sense of its own existence for itself。 It has the certainty of having in truth
stripped itself of its Ego； and of having turned its immediate self…consciousness into a 〃thing〃； into
an objective external existence。
It could ensure its self…renunciation and self…abandonment solely by this real and vital sacrifice ＇of
its self ＇。 For only thereby is the deception got rid of； which lies in inner acknowledgment of
gratitude through heart； sentiment； and tongue — an acknowledgment which indeed disclaims all
power of independent self…existence； and ascribes this power to a gift from above； but in this very
disclaimer retains for itself its own proper and peculiar life； outwardly in the possession it does not
resign； inwardly in the consciousness of the decision which itself has resolved upon and in the
consciousness of its own self…constituted content； which it has not exchanged for a content coming
from without and filling it with meaningless ideas and phrases。
But in the sacrifice actually accomplished。 while consciousness has cancelled the action as its own
act； it has also implicitly demitted and put off its unhappy condition。 Yet that this demission（12）
has implicitly taken place； is effected by the other term of the logical process （Schluss） here
involved； the term which is the inherent and ultimate reality； That sacrifice of the subordinate term；
however； was at the same time not a onesided action； it involves the action of the other。 For giving
up one's own will is only in one aspect negative； in principle； or in itself； it is at the same time
positive； positing and affirming the will