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it is their very nature to pass over directly into a neutral product makes their existence lie in being
cancelled and superseded； or makes it into a universal； and acid and base possess truth merely
qua Universal。 Just； then； as glass and resin can be equally well positively as negatively electrified；
in the same way acid and base are not attached as properties or qualities to this or that reality；
each thing is only relatively acidulate and basic； what seems to be an absolute base or an absolute
acid gets in the so…called Synsomates （2） the opposite significance in relation to an other。
The result of the experiments is in this way to cancel the moments or inner significations as
properties of specific things； and free the； predicates from their subjects。 These predicates are
found merely as universal； and in truth that is what they are。 Because of this self subsistence they
therefore get the name of kinds of 〃matter〃； which is neither a body nor a property of a body；
certainly no one would call acid； positive and negative electricity； heat； （3） etc。； bodies。
Matter； on the contrary； is not a thing that exists； it is being in the sense of universal being； or being
in the way the concept is being。 Reason； still instinctive； correctly draws this distinction without
being conscious that it （reason）； by the very fact of its testing the law in every sense…particular；
cancels the merely sensuous existence of the law； and； when it construes the moments of the law
as forms of matter； their essential nature is taken to be something universal； and specifically
expressed as a non…sensuous element of sense； an incorporeal and yet objective existence。
We have now to see what turn its result takes； and what new shape this activity of observation
will； in consequence； assume。 As the outcome and truth of this experimentation we find pure law；
which is freed from sensuous elements； we see it as a concept； which； while present in sense；
operates there independently and unrestrained； while enveloped in sense； is detached from it and is
a concept bare and simple。 This； which is in truth result and essence； now comes before this
consciousness itself； but as an object； moreover； since the object is not exactly a result for it and is
unrelated to the preceding process； the object is a specific kind of object； and the relation of
consciousness to it takes the form of another kind of observation。
a （2）
Observation of Organic Nature
Such an object which sustains the procedure in the simple activity of the notion is an organism。
Organic existence is this absolutely fluid condition wherein determinateness； which would only put
it in relation to an other； is dissolved。 Inorganic things involve determinateness in their very
essence； and on that account a thing realizes the completeness of the moments of the notion only
along with another thing； and hence gets lost when it enters the dialectic movement。 In the case of
an organic being； on the other hand； all determinate characteristics； by means of 〃which it is
palpable to another； are held under the control of the simple organic unity； none of them comes
forward as essential and capable of detaching itself from the rest and relating itself to an other
being。 What is organic； therefore； preserves itself in its very relation。
The aspects of law on which the instinct of reason directs its observation here are； as we see from
the above； in the first instance organic nature and inorganic nature in their relation to one another。
The latter means for organic nature just the free play…a freedom opposed to the simple notion of
organic natureloosely connected characteristics in which individuated nature is at once dissolved；
and out of the continuity of which the individuated unit of nature at the same time breaks away and
exists separately。 Air； water； earth； zones and climate are universal elements of this sort； which
make up the indeterminate simple being of natural individualities； and in which these are at the
same time reflected into themselves。 Neither the individuality nor the natural element is absolutely
self…contained。 On the contrary： in the independent detachment； which observation finds these
assuming towards one another； they stand at the same time in essential relation to one another； but
in such a way that their independence and mutual indifference form the predominating feature； and
only in part become abstractions。 Here； then； law appears as the relation of an element to the
formative process of the organic being； which at one moment has the element over against itself； at
another exhibits it within its own self…determining organic structure。 But laws like these： animals
belonging to the air are of the nature of birds； those belonging to water have the constitution of
fish； animals in northerly latitudes have thick coats of hair； and so on…such laws exhibit a degree of
poverty which does not do justice to the manifold variety of organic nature。 Besides the fact that
the free activity of organic nature can readily divest its forms of determinate characters like theses
and everywhere presents of necessity exceptions to such laws or rules； as we might call them； the
characterization of those very animals to which they do apply is so very superficial that even the
necessity of the 〃laws〃 can be nothing else but superficial too； and does not carry us further than
what is implied in speaking of the 〃great influence〃 of environment on the organism。 And this does
not tell us what properly is due to that influence and what is not。 Such like relations of organic
beings to the elements they live in cannot therefore be strictly called laws at all。 For； on the one
hand； such a relation； when we look at its content； does not exhaust； as we saw； the range of the
organic beings considered； and on the other； the terms of the relation itself stand indifferently apart
from one another and express no necessity。 In the concept of an acid lies the notion of a base； just
as the notion of positive electricity implies that of negative； but even though we do find as a fact a
thick coat of hair associated with northerly latitudes； the structure of a fish with water； or that of
birds with air； there is nothing in the notion of the north implying the notion of a thick covering of
hair； the notion of the structure of fish does not lie in the notion of the sea； nor that of birds in that
of the air。 Because of this free detachment of the two notions from one another there are； as a fact
also land animals with the essential characters of a bird； of fish； and so on。 The necessity； just
because it cannot be conceived to be an inner necessity of the object； ceases also to have a
foothold in sense； and can be no longer observed in actual reality； but has quitted the sphere of
reality。 Finding thus no place in the real object itself； it becomes what is called a 〃teleological
relation〃； a relation which is external to what is related； and consequently the very reverse of a
law of its constitution。 It is an idea entirely detached from the necessity of nature； a thought which
leaves this necessity of nature