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possesses gravity in virtue of its tendency towards a central point。 It is essentially posite；
consisting of parts that exclude each other。 It seeks its Unity； and therefore exhibits itself as
self…destructive； as verging towards its opposite ＇an indivisible point＇。 If it could attain this； it would
be Matter no longer； it would have perished。 It strives after the realisation of its Idea； for in Unity it
exists ideally。 Spirit； on the contrary； may be defined as that which has its centre in itself。 It has
not a unity outside itself； but has already found it； it exists in and with itself。 Matter has its essence
out of itself； Spirit is self…contained existence （Bei…sich…selbst…seyn）。 Now this is Freedom；
exactly。 For if I am dependent； my being is referred to something else which I am not； I cannot
exist independently of something external。 I am free on the contrary； when my existence depends
upon myself。 This self…contained existence of Spirit is none other than self…consciousness —
consciousness of one's own being。 Two things must be distinguished in consciousness； first； the
fact that I know； secondly； what I know。 In self consciousness these are merged in one； for
Spirit knows itself。 It involves an appreciation of its own nature； as also an energy enabling it to
realise itself； to make itself actually that which it is potentially。 According to this abstract definition
it may be said of Universal History； that it is the exhibition of Spirit in the process of working out
the knowledge of that which it is potentially。 And as the germ bears in itself the whole nature of the
tree； and the taste and form of its fruits； so do the first traces of Spirit virtually contain the whole of
that History。 The Orientals have not attained the knowledge that Spirit — Man as such — is free；
and because they do not know this they are not free。 They only know that one is free。 But on this
very account； the freedom of that one is only caprice； ferocity — brutal recklessness or passion； or
a mildness and tameness of the desires； which is itself only an accident of Nature — mere caprice
like the former。 — That one is therefore only a Despot； not a free man。 The consciousness of
Freedom first arose among the Greeks； and therefore they were free； but they； and the Romans
likewise； knew only that some are free； — not man as such。 Even Plato and Aristotle did not know
this。 The Greeks； therefore； had slaves； and their whole life and the maintenance of their splendid
liberty； was implicated with the institution of slavery： a fact moreover； which made that liberty on
the one hand only an accidental； transient and limited growth； on the other hand； constituted it a
rigorous thraldom of our mon nature — of the Human。 The German nations； under the
influence of Christianity； were the first to attain the consciousness； that man； as man； is free： that it
is the freedom of Spirit which constitutes its essence。 This consciousness arose first in religion； the
inmost region of Spirit； but to introduce the principle into the various relations of the actual world；
involves a more extensive problem than its simple implantation； a problem whose solution and
application require a severe and lengthened process of culture。 In proof of this； we may note that
slavery did not cease immediately on the reception of Christianity。 Still less did liberty predominate
in States； or Governments and Constitutions adopt a rational organisation； or recognise freedom
as their basis。 That application of the principle to political relations； the thorough moulding and
interperation of the constitution of society by it； is a process identical with history itself。 I have
already directed attention to the distinction here involved； between a principle as such； and
its…application； i。e。 its introduction and carrying out in the actual phenomena of Spirit and Life。
This is a point of fundamental importance in our science； and one which must be constantly
respected as essential。 And in the same way as this distinction has attracted attention in view of the
Christian principle of self…consciousness — Freedom； it also shows itself as an essential one； in
view of the principle of Freedom generally。 The History of the world is none other than the
progress of the consciousness of Freedom； a progress whose development according to the
necessity of its nature； it is our business to investigate。
§ 22
The general statement given above； of the various grades in the consciousness of Freedom — and
which we applied in the first instance to the fact that the Eastern nations knew only that one is free；
the Greek and Roman world only that some are free； whilst we know that all men absolutely （man
as man） are free； — supplies us with the natural division of Universal History； and suggests the
mode of its discussion。 This is remarked； however； only incidentally and anticipatively； some other
ideas must be first explained。
§ 23
The destiny of the spiritual World； and； — since this is the substantial World； while the physical
remains subordinate to it； or； in the language of speculation； has no truth as against the spiritual；
— the final cause of the World at large； we allege to be the consciousness of its own freedom on
the part of Spirit； and ipso facto； the reality of that freedom。 But that this term “Freedom；”
without further qualification； is an indefinite； and incalculable ambiguous term； and that while that
which it represents is the ne plus ultra of attainment； it is liable to an infinity of misunderstandings；
confusions and errors； and to bee the occasion for all imaginable excesses； — has never been
more clearly known and felt than in modern times。 Yet； for the present； we must content ourselves
with the term itself without farther definition。 Attention was also directed to the importance of the
infinite difference between a principle in the abstract； and its realisation in the concrete。 In the
process before us； the essential nature of freedom … which involves in it absolute necessity； — is to
be displayed as ing to a consciousness of itself （