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a specific externality been sought to satisfy the understanding。 In existence the Notion has entered
into externality and is accordingly explicated into its differences and cannot be attached simply to a
single one of such properties。 The properties； as the externality of the thing； are external to
themselves； that is why； as we pointed ' out in the sphere of Appearance when dealing with the
thing of many properties； properties essentially become even self…subsistent matters； spirit；
regarded from the same standpoint of Appearance； becomes an aggregate of a number of
self…subsistent forces。 Through this standpoint； the single property or force； even where it is
posited as indifferent to the others； ceases to be a characterising principle； with the result that the
determinateness； as determinateness of the Notion； vanishes altogether。
Into concrete things； along with the diversity of the properties among themselves； there enters also
the difference between the Notion and its actualisation。 The Notion in nature and in spirit has an
external presentation in which its determinateness shows itself as dependence on the external； as
transitoriness and inadequacy。 Therefore； although any actual thing no doubt shows in itself what it
ought to be； yet in accordance with the negative judgement of the Notion it may equally show that
its actuality only imperfectly corresponds to this Notion； that it is bad。 Now the definition is
supposed to indicate the determinateness of the Notion in an immediate property； yet there is no
property against which an instance cannot be brought in which the total habitus； though it enables
one to discern the concrete thing to be defined； yet the property taken as its characteristic shows
itself immature or stunted。 In a bad plant； a poor specimen of an animal； a contemptible human
being； a bad state； aspects of its concrete existence are defective or entirely obliterated that
otherwise might have been adopted for the definition as the distinguishing mark and essential
determinateness in the existence of such a concrete。 But for all that； a bad plant or a bad animal；
etc。； still remains a plant or an animal。 If； therefore； bad specimens too are to be covered by the
definition； then all the properties that we wanted to regard as essential elude us through instances
of malformations in which tho se properties a re lacking。 Thus for example the essentiality of the
brain for physical man is contradicted by the instance of acephalous individuals； the essentiality of
the protection of life and property for the state； by the instance of despotic states and tyrannous
governments。 If the Notion is asserted against such an instance and the instance； being measured
by the Notion； is declared to be a bad specimen； then the Notion is no longer attested by
phenomena。 But the self…subsistence of the Notion is contrary to the meaning of definition； for
definition is supposed to be the immediate Notion； and therefore can only draw on the immediacy
of existence for its determinations for objects； and can justify itself only in what it finds already to
hand。 Whether its content is in…and…for itself truth or a contingency； this lies outside its sphere；
but formal truth； the agreement between the Notion subjectively posited in the definition and an
actual object outside it； cannot be established because the individual object may also be a bad
specimen。
The content of definition is in general taken from immediate existence； and being an immediate
content has no justification； the question of its necessity is precluded by its origin； in enunciating the
Notion as a mere immediate； the definition refrains from comprehending the Notion itself。 Hence it
represents nothing but the form determination of the Notion in a given content； without the
reflection of the Notion into itself； that is； without the Notion's being…for…self。
But immediacy in general proceeds only from mediation； and must therefore pass over into
mediation。 Or； in other words； the determinateness of the content contained in the definition；
because it is determinateness； is not merely an immediate； but is mediated by its opposite；
consequently definition can apprehend its subject matter only through the opposite determination
and must therefore pass over into division。
2。 Division
3。 The Theorem
Axioms
In synthetic cognition； therefore； the Idea attains its end only to the extent that the Notion
becomes for the Notion according to its moments of identity and real determinations； or of
universality and particular differences … further also as an identity that is the connection and
dependence of the diverse elements。 But this subject matter of the Notion is not adequate to it； for
the Notion does not come to be the unity of itself with itself in its subject matter or its reality；
in necessity its identity is for it； but in this identity the necessity is not itself the determinateness；
but appears as a matter external to the identity； that is； as a matter not determined by the Notion； a
matter； therefore； in which the Notion does not cognise itself。 Thus in general the Notion is not for
itself； is not at the same time determined in and for itself according to its unity。 Hence in this
cognition the Idea which falls short of truth on account of the inadequacy of the subject matter to
the subjective Notion。 But the sphere of necessity is the apex of being and reflection； through its
own essential nature it passes into its manifestation； which is the Notion as Notion。 How this
transition from the sphere of necessity into the Notion is effected in principle has been shown in
treating of necessity； the same transition also presented itself as the genesis of the Notion at the
beginning of this Book。
Here necessity has the position of being the reality or subject matter of the Notion； just as the
Notion into which it passes now appears as the Notion's subject matter。 But the transition itself is
the same。 Here too it is only at first implicit and lies as yet outside cognition in our reflection； that
is； it is still the inner necessity of the cognition itself。 It is only the result that is for it。
The Idea； in so far as the Notion is now explicitly determined in and for itself； is the practical
Idea； or action。
BOOK III。 The Doctrine of the Notion
Section 3 （The Idea）； continued
Chapter 2 The Idea of Cognition （continued）
B The Idea of the Good
The Notion； which is its own subject matter； being determined in and for itself； the subject is
determined for itself as an individual。 As subjective it again presupposes an implicit otherness； it is
the urge to realise itself； the end that wills by means of itself to give itself objectivity and to realise
itself in the objective world。
In the theoretical Idea the subjective Notion； as the universal that lacks any determination of its
own； stands opposed to the objective world from which it takes to itself a determinate content and
filling。 But in the practical Idea it is as actual that it confronts the actual； but the certainty of itself
which the subject possesses in being de