grundlinien.de

37

The particularity of the will is indeed a moment of the whole consciousness of the will (§ 34), but it is not yet contained in abstract personality as such. It is therefore indeed present, but as still distinct from personality, the determination of freedom – as desire, need, drives, contingent inclination, and so on. In formal right, therefore, what matters is not the particular interest, my advantage or my welfare – nor likewise the particular determining ground of my will, insight and intention.

DE ES

Comments

2 responses to “37”

  1. Hegel (Notes) Avatar
    Hegel (Notes)

    Totality present, not yet taken up – precisely Per[son] immediate – immediate reflection, yet abstractly mediated – thus itself in the form of immediacy.
    This – mine, as [belonging to] one who enjoys, who is needy – house, fruits etc. for my existence – my welfare, use, pleasure, spiritual need; [this] does not constitute right – with every right [there is] an interest – but only alongside it. – Against this side there then appears the formalism of right – to assert my right even though [I have] no interest in the matter – sheer insistence on being right; – in so doing he easily injures others, in that he throws himself upon this abstract side – abstract will – empty, without content.

  2. Eduard Gans (Additions) Avatar
    Eduard Gans (Additions)

    Because particularity is not yet present in the person as freedom, everything that depends on particularity is here a matter of indifference. If someone has no interest beyond his formal right, this can be sheer obstinacy, as often befits a narrow heart and disposition; for it is the crude person who clings [most] rigidly to his right, whereas the noble-minded person looks to what other aspects the matter may have. Abstract right is thus at first only a mere possibility, and to that extent something formal as against the whole scope of the relation. For this reason the determination of right confers an entitlement, but it is not absolutely necessary that I pursue my right, since it is only one side of the whole relation. For possibility is precisely being that carries the significance of also not being.

Leave a Reply