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117

The will that itself acts has, in its purpose directed at the existence that lies before it, a representation of its circumstances. But because it is, on account of this presupposition, finite, the objective appearance is contingent for it and may contain in itself something other than what is in its representation. The right of the will, however, is to recognize, in its deed, only this as its action, and to have responsibility only for that which, of the deed’s presuppositions, it knew to be in its purpose — what of it lay in its purpose. — The deed can only be imputed as the responsibility of the will — the right of knowledge.

DE ES

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2 responses to “117”

  1. Eduard Gans (Additions) Avatar
    Eduard Gans (Additions)

    The will has before it an existence upon which it acts; but in order to be able to do this, it must have a representation of that existence, and true guilt lies in me only insofar as the existence before me lay within my knowledge. The will, because it has such a presupposition, is finite — or rather, because it is finite, it has such a presupposition. Insofar as I think and will rationally, I do not stand at this standpoint of finitude, for the object upon which I act is not an other over against me; but finitude carries within it a constant limit and restriction. I have before me an other that is merely something contingent, a merely externally necessary thing, which may coincide with me or may be different from me. But I am only what stands in relation to my freedom, and the deed is guilt of my will only insofar as I know about it. Oedipus, who slew his father without knowing it, is not to be accused as a parricide; but in the ancient legislations, subjective factors, imputation, were not valued as highly as they are today. This is why, among the ancients, sanctuaries arose, so that one fleeing from vengeance might be protected and received.

  2. Hegel (Simple) Avatar
    Hegel (Simple)

    § 117: The right of knowledge

    Before I act, I form a picture of the situation. But my picture can be wrong. The world can be different from what I think.

    Then what is my deed?

    Only what I knew. The will has a right: It must answer only for what it knew of the circumstances. We call this the right of knowledge.

    An example:

    At dusk, a hunter sees something rustling in the bushes. He takes it for a deer and shoots. But it was a human being. He has killed a human being. But he has not committed murder. For he did not know that it was a human being.

    Oedipus:

    In an old Greek legend, Oedipus strikes down a stranger. He does not know that it is his father. Is he his father’s murderer? No. For that did not lie in his knowledge. In the legend, he still pays a heavy price. In earlier times, people paid less attention to the inner life than today. That is why there were places of refuge back then. Whoever had killed without intent and fled from revenge was safe there.

    Summary: Others hold me accountable only for what I knew of the circumstances. That is the right of knowledge. A deed without this knowledge is not my action in the full sense.

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