李榮添 : 歷史之理性 -- 黑格爾歷史哲學導論述析 ( Hoffmeister, Nisbet)

李榮添 : 歷史之理性 -- 黑格爾歷史哲學導論述析 ( Hoffmeister, Nisbet)
excerpted from Lectures on the Philosophy of World History : Introduction : Reason in History. Hoffmeister ed. tr. by Nisbet.
( Nisbet, page 50 )

1. In so doing, he is determined by whatever conceptions he has formed of his OWN nature and volitions. It is this which constitutes man's independence : for he knows WHAT it is that DETERMINES him.

2.Thus he can talk a simple concept as his end -- for example, that of his own positive freedom.

3. Man, however, is not independent because he is the INITIATOR of his own movement, but because he can RESTRAIN this movement and thereby master his spontaneity and natural constitution.

4. Its activity consists in transcending and negating its immediate existence so as to turn in again upon itself; it has therefore MADE itself WHAT it is by means of its OWN ACTIVITY.

5. Only if it is turned in upon itself can a subject have true reality. Spirit exists only as its own PRODUCT.