α) Physical seizure, on its sensuous side — in that I am immediately present in this possessing, and my will is thereby equally recognizable — is the most complete mode, but is on the whole only subjective, temporary in duration and limited in scope, as well as highly restricted by the qualitative nature of the objects concerned. – Through the connection into which I can bring something with other things already my own elsewhere, or which otherwise comes about by chance, — through other forms of mediation, the scope of this taking of possession is somewhat extended.

Mechanical forces, weapons, and instruments extend the range of my power. – Connections, such as that of a sea or river washing my land, of ground suitable for hunting, pasturage, or other use bordering on my fixed property, of stones and other mineral deposits beneath my field, of treasures in or beneath my landed property, and so forth, or connections which occur only in time and by chance, such as part of the so-called natural accessions, alluvion and the like, and also flotsam — foetura [offspring, increase] is indeed an accession to my estate, but, as an organic relation, is no external addition to another thing already possessed by me, and is therefore of quite a different kind from the other accessions — are, in part, easier and, in part, exclusive possibilities of taking something into possession or of using it, available to one possessor as against another; in part, the thing added may be regarded as a dependent accident of the thing to which it has been added. These are, on the whole, external connections which do not have the concept and vitality as their bond. They therefore fall to the understanding, for the marshalling and weighing of reasons and counter-reasons, and to positive legislation for decision, according to a greater or lesser degree of essentiality or inessentiality in the relations concerned.