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243

|232| When civil society finds itself in unhindered activity, it is, within itself, engaged in progressive population growth and industry. — Through the generalization of the interconnection of human beings through their needs, and of the ways of preparing and procuring the means for these, the accumulation of wealth increases — for it is from this twofold universality that the greatest profit is drawn — on the one side; just as, on the other side, [there increases] the isolation and limitedness of particular labour, and thereby the dependence and want of the class tied to this labour, with which is connected an incapacity for the feeling and enjoyment of the further freedoms, and, in particular, of the spiritual advantages, of civil society.

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  1. Hegel (Simple) Avatar
    Hegel (Simple)

    § 243: Wealth and want grow together

    When society works without hindrance, it grows. More people, more industry.

    What follows from this?

    On the one side, wealth piles up. For the paths of needs and goods link more and more people. That is where people earn the most.

    On the other side, work becomes narrower and more one-sided. The class bound to this work becomes dependent and falls into want. And it can no longer feel and enjoy the further freedoms. Above all, the spiritual advantages of society stay foreign to it.

    On top of this:

    The earnings of the workers become uncertain. Today they are high, tomorrow they are gone. So the workers get used to betting on chance. Mechanical work dulls many people.

    Poverty is a result of civil society itself. Wealth without measure on one side, misery on the other. Both grow at the same pace.

    Summary: Free society piles up wealth. At the same time, the want grows in the class bound to one-sided work. Wealth and poverty grow together.

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