第10部分(第4/7 頁)

to　a　few　perfectly　simple　relations　of

life；　—　has　infinite　worth；　the　same　worth　as　the　religion　and　morality　of　extensive　knowledge；　and

of　an　existence　rich　in　the　pass　of　its　relations　and　actions。　This　inner　focus　—　this　simple

region　of　the　claims　of　subjective　freedom；　—　the　home　of　volition；　resolution；　and　action；　—　the

abstract　sphere　of　conscience；　—　that　which　prises　the　responsibility　and　moral　value　of　the

individual；　remains　untouched；　and　is　quite　shut　out　from　the　noisy　din　of　the　World's　History　—

including　not　merely　external　and　temporal　changes；　but　also　those　entailed　by　the　absolute

necessity　inseparable　from　the　realisation　of　the　Idea　of　Freedom　itself。　But　as　a　general　truth　this

must　be　regarded　as　settled；　that　whatever　in　the　world　possesses　claims　as　noble　and　glorious；

has　nevertheless　a　higher　existence　above　it。　The　claim　of　the　World…Spirit　rises　above　all　special

claims。

§　39

These　observations　may　suffice　in　reference　to　the　means　which　the　World…Spirit　uses　for　realising

its　Idea。　Stated　simply　and　abstractly；　this　mediation　involves　the　activity　of　personal　existences　in

whom　Reason　is　present　as　their　absolute　substantial　being；　but　a　basis；　in　the　first　instance；　still

obscure　and　unknown　to　them。　But　the　subject　bees　more　plicated　and　difficult　when　we

regard　individuals　not　merely　in　their　aspect　of　activity；　but　more　concretely；　in　conjunction　with　a

particular　manifestation　of　that　activity　in　their　religion　and　morality；　—　forms　of　existence　which　are

intimately　connected　with　Reason；　and　share　in　its　absolute　claims。　Here　the　relation　of　mere

means　of　an　end　disappears；　and　the　chief　hearings　o