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insisted upon； and the very dogmatic opinions asserted； must be examined。 At no time so much as
in our own； have such general principles and notions been advanced； or with greater assurance。 If
in days gone by； history seems to present itself as a struggle of passions； in our time — though
displays of passion are not wanting — it exhibits partly a predominance of the struggle of notions
assuming the authority of principles； partly that of passions and interests essentially subjective； but
under the mask of such higher sanctions。 The pretensions thus contended for as legitimate in the
name of that which has been stated as the ultimate aim of Reason； pass accordingly； for absolute
aims； — to the same extent as Religion； Morals； Ethics。 Nothing； as before remarked； is now more
mon than the plaint that the ideals which imagination sets up are not realised — that these
glorious dreams are destroyed by cold actuality。 These Ideals — which in the voyage of life
founder on the rocks of hard reality — may be in the first instance only subjective； and belong to
the idiosyncrasy of the individual； imagining himself the highest and wisest。 Such do not properly
belong to this category。 For the fancies which the individual in his isolation indulges； cannot be the
model for universal reality； just as universal law is not designed for the units of the mass。 These as
such may； in fact； find their interests decidedly thrust into the background。 But by the term
“Ideal；” we also understand the ideal of Reason； of the Good； of the True。 Poets； as e。g。
Schiller； have painted such ideals touchingly and with strong emotion； and with the deeply
melancholy conviction that they could not be realised。 In affirming； on the contrary that the
Universal Reason does realise itself； we leave indeed nothing to do with the individual empirically
regarded。 That admits of degrees of better and worse； since here chance and speciality have
received authority from the Idea to exercise their monstrous power。 Much； therefore； in particular
aspects of the grand phenomenon might be found fault with。 This subjective fault…finding； — which；
however； only keeps in view the individual and its deficiency； without taking notice of Reason
pervading the whole； — is easy； and inasmuch as it asserts an excellent intention with regard to the
good of the whole； and seems to result from a kindly heart； it feels authorised to give itself airs and
assume great consequence。 It is easier to discover a deficiency in individuals； in states； and in
Providence； than to see their real import and value。 For in this merely negative fault…finding a
proud position is taken； — one which overlooks the object； without having entered into it； —
without having prehended its positive aspect。 Age generally makes men more tolerant； youth is
always discontented。 The tolerance of age is the result of the ripeness of a judgment which； … not
merely as the result of indifference； is satisfied even with what is inferior； but； more deeply taught
by the grave experience of life； has been led to perceive the substantial； solid worth of the object
in question。 The insight then to which — in contradistinction from those ideals — philosophy is to
lead us； is； that the real world is as it ought to be — that the truly good — the universal divine
reason — is not a mere abstraction； but a vital principle capable of realising itself。 This Good； this
Reason； in its most concrete form； is God。 God governs the world； the actual working of his
government — the carrying out of his plan — is the History of the World。 This plan philosophy
strives to prehend； for only that which has been developed as the result of it； possesses bona
fide reality。 That which does not accord with it； is negative； worthless existence。 Before the pure
light of this divine Idea — which is no mere Idea … the phantom of a world whose events are an
incoherent concourse of fortuitous circumstances； utterly vanishes。 Philosophy wishes to discover
the substantial purport； the real side of the divine idea and to justify the so much despised Reality
of things； for Reason is the prehension of the Divine work。 But as to what concerns the
perversion； corruption； and ruin of religious； ethical and moral purposes； and states of society
generally； it must be affirmed； that in their essence these are infinite and eternal； but that the forms
they assume may be of a limited orders and consequently belong to the domain of mere nature；
and be subject to the sway of chance。 They are therefore perishable； and exposed to decay and
corruption。 Religion and morality — in the same way as inherently universal essences — have the
peculiarity of being present in the individual soul； in the full extent of their Idea； and therefore truly
and really； although they may not manifest themselves in it in extenso； and are not applied to fully
developed relations。 The religion； the morality of a limited sphere of life — that of a shepherd or a
peasant； e。g。 — in its intensive concentration and limitation to a few perfectly simple relations of
life； — has infinite worth； the same worth as the religion and morality of extensive knowledge； and
of an existence rich in the pass of its relations and actions。 This inner focus — this simple
region of the claims of subjective freedom； — the home of volition； resolution； and action； — the
abstract sphere of conscience； — that which prises the responsibility and moral value of the
individual； remains untouched； and is quite shut out from the noisy din of the World's History —
including not merely external and temporal changes； but also those entailed by the absolute
necessity inseparable from the realisation of the Idea of Freedom itself。 But as a general truth this
must be regarded as settled； that whatever in the world possesses claims as noble and glorious；
has nevertheless a higher existence above it。 The claim of the World…Spirit rises above all special
claims。
§ 39
These observations may suffice in reference to the means which the World…Spirit uses for realising
its Idea。 Stated simply and abstractly； this mediation involves the activity of personal existences in
whom Reason is present as their absolute substantial being； but a basis； in the first instance； still
obscure and unknown to them。 But the subject bees more plicated and difficult when we
regard individuals not merely in their aspect of activity； but more concretely； in conjunction with a
particular manifestation of that activity in their religion and morality； — forms of existence which are
intimately connected with Reason； and share in its absolute claims。 Here the relation of mere
means of an end disappears； and the chief hearings of this seeming difficulty in reference to the
absolute aim of Spirit； have been briefly considered。
III。 Philosophic History
ii。 The Essential Destiny of Reason
（3） The Embodiment Spirit Assumes — the State
§ 40
The third point to be analysed is； therefore … what is the object to be realised by these means； i。e。
what is the form it assumes in the realm of reality。 We have spoken of means； but in the carrying
out of a subjective； limited aim； we have also to take into consideration the element of a material；
either already present or which has to be procured。 Thus the question would arise： What is the
material in which the Ideal of Reason is wrought out？ The primary answer would be； … Personality
itself … human desires … Subjectivity generally。 In human knowledge and volition； as its material
element； Reason attains positive existence。 We have considered subjective volition where it has an
object which is the truth and essence of a reality； viz。 where it constitutes a great world…historical
passion。 As a subjective will； occupied with limited passions； it is dependent； and can gratify its
desires only within the limits of this dependence。 But the subjective will has also a substantial life …
a reality； … in which it moves in the region of essential being and has the essential itself as the
object of its existence。 This essential being is the union of the subjective with the rational Will： it
is the moral Whole； the State； which is that form of reality in which the individual has and enjoys
his freedom； but on the condition of his recognition； believing in and willing that which is mon
to the Whole。 And this must not be understood as if the subjective will of the social unit attained its
gratification and enjoyment through that mon Will； as if this were a means provided for its
benefit； as if the individual； in his relations to other individuals； thus limited his freedom； in order
that this universal limitation … the mutual constraint of all … might secure a small space of liberty for
each。 Rather； we affirm； are Law； Morality； Government； and they alone； the positive reality and
pletion of Freedom。 Freedom of a low and limited order； is mere caprice； which finds its
exercise in the sphere of particular and limited desires。
§ 41
Subjective volition … Passion … is that which sets men in activity； that which effects 〃practical〃
realisation。 The Idea is the inner spring of action； the State is the actually； existing； realised moral
life。 For it is the Unity of the universal； essential Will； with that of the individual； and this is
〃Morality。〃 The Individual living in this unity has a moral life； possesses a value that consists in this
substantiality alone。 Sophocles in his Antigone； says； 〃The divine mands are not of yesterday；
nor of today； no； they have an infinite existence； and no one could say whence they came。〃 The
laws of morality are not accidental； but are the essentially Rational。 It is the very object of the
State that what is essential in the practical activity of men； and in their dispositions； should be duly
recognised； that it should have a manifest existence； and maintain its position。 It is the absolute
interest of Reason that this moral Whole should exist； and herein lies the justification and merit of
heroes who have founded states； … however rude these may have been。 In the history of the
World。； only those peoples can e under our notice which form a state。 For it must be
understood that this latter is the realisation of Freedom； i。e。 of the absolute final aim； and that it
exists for its own sake。 It must further be understood that all the worth which the human being
possesses … all spiritual reality； he possesses only through the State。 For his spiritual reality consists
in this； that his own essence … Reason … is objectively present to him； that it possesses objective
immediate existence for him。 Thus only is he fully conscious； thus only is he a partaker of morality …
of a just and moral social and political life。 For Truth is the Unity of the universal and subjective
Will； and the Universal is to be found in the State； in its laws； its universal and rational
arrangements。 The State is the Divine Idea as it exists on Earth。 We have in it； therefore； the
object of History in a more definite shape than before； that in which Freedom obtains objectivity