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what has happened。 This union of the two meanings we must regard as of a higher order than mere
outward accident； we must suppose historical narrations to have appeared contemporaneously
with historical deeds and events。 It is an internal vital principle mon to both that produces them
synchronously。 Family memorials； patriarchal traditions； have an interest confined to the family and
the clan。 The uniform course of events which such a condition implies； is no subject of serious
remembrance； though distinct transactions or turns of fortune； may rouse Mnemosyne to form
conceptions of them； — in the same way as love and the religious emotions provoke imagination to
give shape to a previously formless impulse。 But it is the State which first presents subject…matter
that is not only adapted to the prose of History； but involves the production of such history in the
very progress of its own being。 Instead of merely subjective mandates on the part of government；
— sufficing for the needs of the moment； — a munity that is acquiring a stable existence； and
exalting itself into a State； requires formal mands and laws — prehensive and universally
binding prescriptions； and thus produces a record as well as an interest concerned with intelligent；
definite — and； in their results — lasting transactions and occurrences； on which Mnemosyne； for
the behoof of the perennial object of the formation and constitution of the State； is impelled to
confer perpetuity。 Profound sentiments generally； such as that of love； as also religious intuition and
its conceptions； are in themselves plete — constantly present and satisfying； but that outward
existence of a political constitution which is enshrined in its rational laws and customs； is an
imperfect Present； and cannot be thoroughly understood without a knowledge of the past。
§ 69
The periods — whether we suppose them to be centuries or millennia — that were passed by
nations before history was written among them； — and which may have been filled with
revolutions； nomadic wanderings； and the strangest mutations； — are on that very account destitute
of objective history； because they present no subjective history； no annals。 We need not suppose
that the records of such periods have accidentally perished； rather； because they were not
possible； do we find them wanting。 Only in a State cognisant of Laws； can distinct transactions
take place； acpanied by such a clear consciousness of them as supplies the ability and
suggests the necessity of an enduring record。 It strikes every one； in beginning to form an
acquaintance with the treasures of Indian literature； that a land so rich in intellectual products； and
those of the profoundest order of thought； has no History； and in this respect contrasts most
strongly with China — an empire possessing one so remarkable； one going back to the most
ancient times。 India has not only ancient books relating to religion； and splendid poetical
productions； but also ancient codes； the existence of which latter kind of literature has been
mentioned as a condition necessary to the origination of History — and yet History itself is not
found。 But in that country the impulse of organisation； in beginning to develop social distinctions；
was immediately petrified in the merely natural classification according to castes； so that although
the laws concern themselves with civil rights； they make even these dependent on natural
distinctions； and are especially occupied with determining the relations （Wrongs rather than Rights）
of those classes towards each other； i。e。； the privileges of the higher over the lower。 Consequently；
the element of morality is banished from the pomp of Indian life and from its political institutions。
Where that iron bondage of distinctions derived from nature prevails； the connection of society is
nothing but wild arbitrariness； — transient activity； — or rather the play of violent emotion without
any goal of advancement or development。 Therefore no intelligent reminiscence； no object for
Mnemosyne presents itself； and imagination — confused though profound — expatiates in a region；
which； to be capable of History； must have had an aim within the domain of Reality； and； at the
same time ； of substantial Freedom。
§ 70
Since such are the conditions indispensable to a history； it has happened that the growth of
Families to Clans； of Clans to Peoples； and their local diffusion consequent upon this numerical
increased series of facts which itself suggests so many instances of social plication； war；
revolution； and ruin； — a process which is so rich in interest； and so prehensive in extent； —
has occurred without giving rise to History： moreover； that the extension and organic growth of the
empire of articulate sounds has itself remained voiceless and dumb； — a stealthy； unnoticed
advance。 It is a fact revealed by philological monuments； that languages； during a rude condition of
the nations that have spoken them； have been very highly developed； that the human understanding
occupied this theoretical region with great ingenuity and pleteness。 For Grammar； in its
extended and consistent form； is the work of thought； which makes its categories distinctly visible
therein。 It is； moreover； a fact； that with advancing social and political civilisation； this systematic
pleteness of intelligence suffers attrition； and language thereupon bees poorer and ruder： a
singular phenomenon — that the progress towards a more highly intellectual condition； while
expanding and cultivating rationality； should disregard that intelligent amplitude and expressiveness
— should find it an obstruction and contrive to do without it。 Speech is the act of theoretic
intelligence in a special sense； it is its external manifestation。 Exercises of memory and imagination
without language； are direct； ＇non…speculative＇ manifestations。 But this act of theoretic intelligence
itself； as also its subsequent development； and the more concrete class of facts connected with it；
…viz。 the spreading of peoples over the earth； their separation from each other； their ings and
wanderings — remain involved in the obscurity of a voiceless past。 They are not acts of Will
being self…conscious — of Freedom； mirroring itself in a phenomenal form； and creating for
itself a proper reality。 Not partaking of this element of substantial； veritable existence； those
nations — notwithstanding the development of language among them — never advanced to the
possession of a history。 The rapid growth of language； and the progress and dispersion of
Nations； assume importance and interest for concrete Reason； only when they have e in
contact with States； or begin to form political constitutions themselves。
§ 71
After these remarks； relating to the form of the mencement of the World's History； and to
that ante…historical period which must be excluded from it； we have to state the direction of its
course： though here only formally。 The further definition of the subject in the concrete； es
under the head of arrangement。
§ 72
Universal history — as already demonstrated — shows the development of the consciousness of
Freedom on the part of Spirit； and of the consequent realisation of that Freedom。 This
development implies a gradation — a series of increasingly adequate expressions or manifestations
of Freedom； which result from its Idea。 The logical； and — as still more prominent — the
dialectical nature of the Idea in general； viz。 that it is self…determined — that it assumes successive
forms which it successively transcends； and by this very process of transcending its earlier stages；
gains an affirmative； and； in fact； a richer and more concrete shape； — this necessity of its nature；
and the necessary series of pure abstract forms which the Idea successively assumes — is
exhibited in the department of Logic。 Here we need adopt only one of its results； viz。 that every
step in the process； as differing from any other； has its determinate peculiar principle。 In history this
principle is idiosyncrasy of Spirit — peculiar National Genius。 It is within the limitations of this
idiosyncrasy that the spirit of the nation； concretely manifested； expresses every aspect of its
consciousness and will — the whole cycle of its realisation。 Its religion； its polity； its ethics； its
legislation； and even its science； art； and mechanical skill； all bear its stamp。 These special
peculiarities find their key in that mon peculiarity； — the particular principle that characterises a
people； as； on the other hand； in the facts which History presents in detail； that mon
characteristic principle may be detected。 That such or such a specific quality constitutes the
peculiar genius of a people； is the element of our inquiry which must be derived from experience；
and historically proved。 To acplish this； presupposes not only a disciplined faculty of
abstraction； but an intimate acquaintance with the Idea。 The investigator must be familiar à priori
（if we like to call it so）； with the whole circle of conceptions to which the principles in question
belong — just as Kepler （to name the most illustrious example in this mode of philosophising） must
have been familiar à priori with ellipses； with cubes and squares； and with ideas of their relations
before be could discover； from the empirical data； those immortal “Laws” of his； which are none
other than forms of thought pertaining to those classes of conceptions。 He who is unfamiliar with
the science that embraces these abstract elementary conceptions； is as little capable — though he
may have gazed on the firmament and the motions of the celestial bodies for a life…time — of
understanding those Laws； as of discovering them。 From this want of acquaintance with the
ideas that relate to the development of Freedom； proceed a part of those objections which are
brought against the philosophical consideration of a science usually regarded as one of mere
experience； the so…called à priori method； and the attempt to insinuate ideas into the empirical
data of history； being the chief points in the indictment。 Where this deficiency exists； such
conceptions appear alien — not lying within the object of investigation。 To minds whose training
has been narrow and merely subjective； — iliarity with
ideas； — they are something strange — not embraced in the notion and conception of the subject
which their limited intellect forms。 Hence the statement that Philosophy does not understand such
sciences。 It must； indeed； allow that it has not that kind of Understanding which is the prevailing
one in the domain of those sciences that it does not proceed according to the categories of such
Understanding； but according to the categories of Reason … though at the same time recognising
that Understanding； and its true value and position。 It must be observed that in this very process of
scientific Understanding； it is of importance that the essential should be distinguished and brought
into relief in contrast with the so…called non…e