By: Hegel (Simple)

Hegel (Simple) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:37:23 +0000

§ 53: Three ways of having something

How does my will relate to my thing? In three ways.

First: I take possession of the thing. My will is there in it. The thing stays as it is. That is taking possession.

Second: I use the thing. I wear it out or use it up. My will is there in it by changing it. That is use.

Third: I give the thing away. My will withdraws from it. It can only do this because the thing really belongs to it. That is alienation.

An example: Someone buys a boat. He ties it up at his own jetty. He sails it every summer until it is old. Then he sells it. Possession, use, passing on.

You can also read it as three judgments. The first says: The thing is mine. The second says: The thing is nothing for itself, it serves me. The third says: The thing is not my will at all, I can let it go.

Summary: Property has three sides. I take possession, I use, I give away. We now go through these three steps in order.

By: Hegel (Notes)

Hegel (Notes) — Fri, 22 Nov 1822 08:10:32 +0000

A. Property in the taking possession of an individual thing.
B. Property – insofar as the thing divides itself into individual and universal – division, difference
Interest, possession of a universal, and in a universal manner, thus within the element of the universal will. This interest is to be pursued.
Taking possession of the individual and of the universal, the whole
Acquisition of the whole.
α) Taking possession of the individual is a sign of taking possession of the whole – as whole use.
Mere distinctness of the individual or particular – from the universal.
β) To what extent are the two, property of use and property of the whole, distinguished.
Acquisition of the individual through the whole, proceeding from the universal which I – as capacity – have.
γ) But I myself am also universal – taking possession, use of the same.
C. Property in a universal, with indifference to its specific character. Value – and my inwardness. Hereby the possibility of alienating the specific individual thing – while I remain owner.
Separation, falling apart of the particular individual and of the universal. – The universal thereby divides itself into a doubled universal: α) that of the external thing, and β) that of myself, my skill, talents, etc.
Thus individuality in B, use, activity, is α) consumption, β) producing. Individuality is the transient side, and C, activity, is the realization of the difference – is alienation, as a negative moment – the affirmative is contract.
Manner of the becoming-one of the I and the thing –
α) my will and my physical force – external, synthetic manner and form – abstract, that something be mine –
β) becoming-one – it is necessary that the independence of the thing perish – use – this alone is the proper taking-possession.
α) and β) is abstract.
γ) Alienation, renewed separation, negating, giving up its specific peculiarity, and remaining in possession of the universal, of value -*)
– Bringing forth of an immediate will
Alienation, according to β), of its specific peculiarity, and retaining the same, according to α).
Separation of the particular and the universal – At first I can retain only the universal. It remains that α) something is mine – remains in general, i.e. as universal – and β) I cease to be in possession of the particular. (Already in use this distinction shows itself -)
*)[added in pencil:] γ) a use [above: the powers], which is immediately a taking possession

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By: Hegel (Simple)

By: Hegel (Notes)