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goes through can be no other than that of finding that its purpose is already implicitly （an sich）
carried out； that happiness lies immediately in action itself； and action itself is the good。 The
principle or notion of this entire sphere of experienceviz。 that 〃thinghood〃 is the independent
self…existence of mindbecomes in the course of this experience an objective fact for
self…consciousness。 In that self…consciousness has found this principle； it is aware of itself as reality
in the sense of directly self…expressing Individuality； which no longer finds any resistance in a
reality opposed to it； and whose object and purpose are merely this function of self…expression。
1。 Viz。 in descriptive observation of nature as such。
2。 Viz。 in observation of living nature； the 〃organic〃。
3。 Viz。 in observation of nature as the external reality of mind； laws of thought； psychology；
physiognomy； phrenology。
4。 The first and succeeding editions read 〃seines〃 Volks： Lasson proposes 〃eines〃。 This seems
correct in the context。
B： Realisation
a
Pleasure & Necessity
SELF…CONSCIOUSNESS； which is aware of being the reality； has its object within itself； but an
object which； at first； is merely its own （für sich）； and is not yet in actual existence。 Existence
stands opposed to it as a reality other than its own； and the aim of self…consciousness consists in
carrying out what it is 〃for itself〃 so as to see itself as another independent being。 This first purpose
is to become conscious； in that other self…consciousness； of itself as an individual； to turn this other
into its own self。 It has the assurance that this other already is essentially itself。
In so far as it has risen from out of the substance of ethical life and the quiescent state of thought；
and attained its conscious independence； it has left behind the law of custom and of substantial
existence； the kinds of knowledge acquired through observation； and the sphere of theory； these
lie behind it as a gray shadow that is just vanishing。 For this latter is rather a knowledge of
something； the independent existence （Fürmichseyn） and actuality of which are other than those
of self…consciousness。 It is not the seemingly divine spirit of universality in knowledge and action；
wherein （all individual） feeling and enjoyment are stilled； that has passed into and fills this new level
of self…consciousness； but the spirit of the earth； a spirit which holds that being alone as true reality
which is the reality of individual consciousness。
It repudiates sense and science
The highest gifts possessed by men…
It has gone over to the devil；
And must be o'erthrown （1）
It plunges thus into life； and carries to its completion the pure individuality in which it appears。 It
does not so much make its own happiness as take it directly and enjoy it。 The grey shades of
science； laws and principles； which alone stand between it and its own reality； vanish like a lifeless
mist that cannot contend against the living certainty of its reality。 It takes to itself life much as a ripe
fruit is plucked； which comes to meet the hand that takes it （2）
Its action is only in one respect an act of Desire； it does not aim at abolishing the objective fact in
its entirety； but only the form of its otherness or objectivity； which is an unreal appearance； for it
holds this to be inherently and implicitly the same reality as its own self。 The sphere in which desire
and its object subsist independently and indifferent towards each other is that of living existence；
the enjoyment of desire cancels this existence； so far as it belongs to the object of desire。 But here
this element； which gives to both separate and distinct actuality； is rather the category； a form of
being which has essentially the character of a presented being。 It （i。e。 the element） is therefore the
consciousness of independenceit may be natural consciousness； or the consciousness
developed into a system of lawswhich preserves the individuals each for himself。 This separation
does not per se hold for self…consciousness； which knows the other as its own proper self…hood。
It attains therefore to the enjoyment of Pleasure； to the consciousness of its actualization in a
consciousness which appears as independent； or to the intuition of the unity of both independent
self…consciousnesses。 It succeeds in its purpose； but only to learn there what the truth of that
purpose is。 It conceives itself as this individual self…existent （Fürmichseyn） being； but the
actualization of this purpose is just the cancelling of the purpose。 For it comes consciously to be；
not object in the sense of a given particular individual； but rather as unity of its self and the other
self…consciousness； consequently as cancelled and transcended individual； i。e。 as universal。
The pleasure enjoyed has； indeed； the positive significance that the self has become aware of itself
as objective self…consciousness： but the negative import is there as well…that of having cancelled
itself。 And since it took its realization in the former sense only； its experience comes consciously
before it as contradiction； in which the acquired reality of its individual existence finds itself
destroyed by the negative element； which stands without reality and without content over against
the former； and yet is the force which consumes it。 This negative element is nothing else than the
notion of what this individuality inherently is。 This individuality is； however； as yet the poorest form
of self…realizing mind； for it is to itself still simply the abstraction of reason； or is the merely
immediate unity of being…for…self and being…in…self （Für…sich und Ansichseyns）； of explicit and
implicit self。 Its essential nature therefore is only the abstract category。 Still it has no longer the
form of immediate simple being as in the case of Observation； where it is abstract being； or； when
affirmed as something alien； is thinghood in general。 Here in the case before us there has entered
into this thinghood self…existence （Fürsichseyn） and mediation。 It comes on the scene here；
therefore； in the form of a circular process； whose content is the developed pure relation of the
simple essential elements。 The actualization attained in the case of this individuality consists；
therefore； in nothing else than its having turned out this cycle of abstractions from the restricted
confines of simple self…consciousness； and put them into the sphere and condition of 〃being for
consciousness〃 existence； where they appear spread out in detail as distinct objects。
The sort of object； then； that self…consciousness in its pleasurable enjoyment takes to be its true
reality； is the detailed expansion of those bare essential elements of pure unity； of pure difference；
and of their relation。 Further than this the object； which individuality experiences as its true nature；
has no content。 It is what is called Necessity。 For Necessity； Fate； or the like； is just that about
which we are unable to say what it is doing； what its definite laws