第6部分(第4/7 頁)

—　is　to

be　displayed　as　ing　to　a　consciousness　of　itself　（for　it　is　in　its　very　nature；　self…consciousness）

and　thereby　realising　its　existence。　Itself　is　its　own　object　of　attainment；　and　the　sole　aim　of　Spirit。

This　result　it　is；　at　which　the　process　of　the　World's　History　has　been　continually　aiming；　and　to

which　the　sacrifices　that　have　ever　and　anon　been　laid　on　the　vast　altar　of　the　earth；　through　the

long　lapse　of　ages；　have　been　offered。　This　is　the　only　aim　that　sees　itself　realised　and　fulfilled；　the

only　pole　of　repose　amid　the　ceaseless　change　of　events　and　conditions；　and　the　sole　efficient

principle　that　pervades　them。　This　final　aim　is　God's　purpose　with　the　world；　but　God　is　the

absolutely　perfect　Being；　and　can；　therefore；　will　nothing　other　than　himself　—　his　own　Will。　The

Nature　of　His　Will　—　that　is；　His　Nature　itself　—　is　what　we　here　call　the　Idea　of　Freedom；

translating　the　language　of　Religion　into　that　of　Thought。　The　question；　then；　which　we　may　next

put；　is：　What　means　does　this　principle　of　Freedom　use　for　its　realisation？　This　is　the　second　point

we　have　to　consider。

（2）　The　Means　Spirit　Uses　to　Realise　Its　Idea

§　24

The　question　of　the　means　by　which　Freedom　develops　itself　to　a　World；　conducts　us　to　the

phenomenon　of　History　itself。　Although　Freedom　is；　primarily；　an　undeveloped　idea；　the　means　it

uses　are　external　and　phenomenal；　presenting　themselves　in　History　to　our　sensuous　vision。　The

first　glance　at　History　convinces　us　that　the　actions　of　men　proceed　from　their　needs；　their

passions；　their　characters　and　talents；　and　impresses　us　with　the　belief　that　such　needs；　passions

and　interests　are　the　s