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241

But, just as much as arbitrary will, contingent, physical circumstances, and circumstances lying in external relations (§ 200), can bring individuals down into poverty — a condition that leaves them the needs of civil society, and which, since it has, at the same time, deprived them of the natural means of acquisition (§ 217), and has annulled the further bond of the family as a stock (§ 181), thereby also deprives them, more or less, of all the advantages of society — the ability to acquire skills and culture in general, as well as the administration of justice, the care of health, and, often, even the comfort of religion, and so on. |231| The universal power takes the place of the family with the poor, in respect both of their immediate want, and of the disposition to shun labour, malice, and the further vices that spring from such a situation and from the feeling of the wrong done to them.

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  1. Hegel (Simple) Avatar
    Hegel (Simple)

    § 241: Poverty

    Not only one’s own fault brings people into poverty. Chance can do it too: illness, bad luck, outer circumstances.

    What does poverty mean in society?

    The poor man still has the needs of society. But he has lost the natural means of earning a living. He no longer has a field. And the large clan that used to catch him is gone too.

    He also loses, more or less, the advantages of society. He can hardly learn anything. He has little access to justice and to health care. Often he even lacks the comfort of religion.

    Who takes the place of the family?

    The public power. It deals with the immediate want. But it also turns against the attitude that grows from such a situation. It turns against the dislike of work, malice and other vices. These spring from the situation itself and from the feeling of suffering a wrong.

    Summary: Poverty also comes through chance. The poor man has the needs of society, but not its advantages. The public power takes the place of the family for him.

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