第19部分(第4/7 頁)

ption　of　itself。　In

fact　it　is　world…historical　only　in　so　far　as　a　universal　principle　has　lain　in　its　fundamental　element；

—　in　its　grand　aim：　only　so　far　is　the　work　which　such　a　spirit　produces；　a　moral；　political

organisation。　If　it　be　mere　desires　that　impel　nations　to　activity；　such　deeds　pass　over　without

leaving　a　trace；　or　their　traces　are　only　ruin　and　destruction。　Thus；　it　was　first　Chronos　—　Time　—

that　ruled；　the　Golden　Age；　without　moral　products；　and　what　was　produced　—　the　offspring　of

that　Chronos　—　was　devoured　by　it。　It　was　Jupiter　—　from　whose　head　Minerva　sprang；　and　to

whose　circle　of　divinities　belong　Apollo　and　the　Muses　—　that　first　put　a　constraint　upon　Time；　and

set　a　bound　to　its　principle　of　decadence。　He　is　the　Political　god；　who　produced　a　moral　work　—

the　State。

§　88

In　the　very　element　of　an　achievement　the　quality　of　generality；　of　thought；　is　contained；　without

thought　it　has　no　objectivity；　that　is　its　basis。　The　highest　point　in　the　development　of　a　people　is

this；　—　to　have　gained　a　conception　of　its　life　and　condition；　—　to　have　reduced　its　laws；　its　ideas

of　justice　and　morality　to　a　science；　for　in　this　unity　＇of　the　objective　and　subjective＇　lies　the　most

intimate　unity　that　Spirit　can　attain　to　in　and　with　itself。　In　its　work　it　is　employed　in　rendering　itself

an　object　of　its　own　contemplation；　but　it　cannot　develop　itself　objectively　in　its　essential　nature；

except　in　thinking　itself。

§　89

At　this　point；　then；　Spirit　is　acquainted　with　its　principles　—　the　general　character　of　its　acts。　But　at

the　same　time；　in　virtue　of　its　very　generality；　this　work　of　thought　is　different　in　point　of