第一小说网

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第5部分（第4页）

the　idea　of　Spirit　speculatively；　for　whatever　has　a　place　in　an　Introduction；　must；　as　already

observed；　be　taken　as　simply　historical；　something　assumed　as　having　been　explained　and　proved

elsewhere；　or　whose　demonstration　awaits　the　sequel　of　the　Science　of　History　itself。

§　20

We　have　therefore　to　mention　here：

（1）　The　abstract　characteristics　of　the　nature　of　Spirit。

（2）　What　means　Spirit　uses　in　order　to　realise　its　Idea。

（3）　Lastly；　we　must　consider　the　shape　which　the　perfect　embodiment　of　Spirit　assumes…the　State。

（1）　The　Abstract　Characteristics　of　the　Nature　of　Spirit

§　21

The　nature　of　Spirit　may　be　understood　by　a　glance　at　its　direct　opposite　—　Matter。　As　the

essence　of　Matter　is　Gravity；　so；　on　the　other　hand；　we　may　affirm　that　the　substance；　the　essence

of　Spirit　is　Freedom。　All　will　readily　assent　to　the　doctrine　that　Spirit；　among　other　properties；　is

also　endowed　with　Freedom；　but　philosophy　teaches　that　all　the　qualities　of　Spirit　exist　only

through　Freedom；　that　all　are　but　means　for　attaining　Freedom；　that　all　seek　and　produce　this　and

this　alone。　It　is　a　result　of　speculative　Philosophy；　that　Freedom　is　the　sole　truth　of　Spirit。　Matter

possesses　gravity　in　virtue　of　its　tendency　towards　a　central　point。　It　is　essentially　posite；

consisting　of　parts　that　exclude　each　other。　It　seeks　its　Unity；　and　therefore　exhibits　itself　as

self…destructive；　as　verging　towards　its　opposite　＇an　indivisible　point＇。　If　it　could　attain　this；　it　would

be　Matter　no　longer；　it　would　have　perished。　It　strives　after　the　realisation　of　its　Idea；　for　in　Unity　it

exists　ideally。　Spirit；　on　the　contrary；　may　be　defined　as　that　which　has　its　centre　in　itself。　It　has

not　a　unity　outside　itself；　but　has　already　found　it；　it　exists　in　and　with　itself。　Matter　has　its　essence

out　of　itself；　Spirit　is　self…contained　existence　（Bei…sich…selbst…seyn）。　Now　this　is　Freedom；

exactly。　For　if　I　am　dependent；　my　being　is　referred　to　something　else　which　I　am　not；　I　cannot

exist　independently　of　something　external。　I　am　free　on　the　contrary；　when　my　existence　depends

upon　myself。　This　self…contained　existence　of　Spirit　is　none　other　than　self…consciousness　—

consciousness　of　ones　own　being。　Two　things　must　be　distinguished　in　consciousness；　first；　the

fact　that　I　know；　secondly；　what　I　know。　In　sel