232

|227| Apart from crimes, which the universal power has to prevent or bring to judicial treatment — contingency as the arbitrary will of evil — the permitted arbitrary will belonging to lawful actions and the private use of property also has external relations to other individuals, as well as to other public arrangements serving a common purpose. Through this universal side, private actions become a contingency that passes out of my control, and which can, or does, result in harm and injustice to others.

DE ES

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One response to “232”

  1. Hegel (Simple) Avatar
    Hegel (Simple)

    § 232: Permitted actions can do harm

    The public power should prevent crimes or bring them to court. That is clear. But there is something else too.

    What is it?

    Permitted actions also have results for others. I may do what I want with my property. But it often touches other people and shared facilities.

    An example:

    I stack wood in my yard. I have every right to do that. But the pile stands close to my neighbor’s house. If it catches fire, his house burns too.

    In this way, my private action turns into a chance event that I no longer control. It can harm others and do them wrong.

    Summary: Not only crimes do harm. Permitted private actions can also hit others. So they concern the public power.

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