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working against itself。
§ 63 The analysis of the successive grades； in their abstract form； belongs to Logic； in their
concrete aspect to the Philosophy of Spirit。
§ 64 Possibility points to something destined to bee actual。
§ 65 The investigation of the history of ancient peoples； to trace their annals up to the point where
fragments of primary revelation are to be met with。
§ 66 We have to thank this interest for many valuable discoveries in Oriental literature。
§ 67 An advanced condition of science； and the assertion that such a condition occurred at the
very beginning of History。
§ 68 The only method philosophical investigation can adopt； is to take up History where
Rationality begins to manifest itself in the World's affairs。
§ 69 The period before history was written are destitute of objective history； because they
present no subjective history。
§ 70 The progress of Nations assumes importance for concrete Reason； only when they have
e in contact with States； or begin to form constitutions。
§ 71 We now have to state the direction of its course： though here only formally。
§ 72 The logical； and dialectical nature of the Idea； viz。 that it is self…determined — that it
assumes successive forms which it successively transcends； and by this very process gains a richer
and more concrete shape。
§ 73 A doubt has been suggested whether in the progress of history and of general culture；
mankind have bee better。
§ 74 The History of the World occupies a higher ground than that on which morality has properly
its position。
§ 75 The condition of Philosophy's existence is the taking up of the object of thought； and at the
same time clothing it with the form of universality。
§ 76 Language attains on its own particular ground a high intellectual development； prior to the
mencement of civilisation。
§ 77 Philosophy also must make its appearance where political life exists。
§ 78 Among all world…historical peoples； art； science； even philosophy show not only diversity in
style； but still more remarkably in subject…matter。
§ 79 Those spheres of intelligence which lie beyond the limits of this consciousness are a mon
ground。
§ 80 It is the concrete spirit of a people which we have to recognise； and it can only be
prehended spiritually。
§ 81 History is the development of Spirit in Time； as Nature is the development of the Idea in
Space。
§ 82 With a vast expenditure of power a trivial result is produced； while from what appears
unimportant； a tremendous issue proceeds。
§ 83 What traveller among the ruins of Carthage or Rome has not reflected on the transience of
kingdoms and men。
§ 84 Spirit manipulates itself； multiplying the material for future endeavours and gratifying its
desires in a variety which is inexhaustible。
§ 85 The very essence of Spirit is activity； it realises its potentiality and bees an object to
itself； contemplates itself as an objective existence。
§ 86 The Spirit of a people exists as a genus； and consequently carries within it its own negation。
§ 87 It is not of the nature of the all…pervading Spirit to die this merely natural death。
§ 88 The highest point in the development of a people is this： to have reduced its laws； its ideas of
justice and morality to a science。
§ 89 We have then before us a real and an ideal existence of the Spirit of the Nation。
§ 90 We are sure to see a people putting talk about virtue partly side by side with actual virtue。
§ 91 At the same time the isolation of individuals from each other and from the Whole makes its
appearance。
§ 92 Zeus and his race are themselves swallowed up by the very power that produced them —
the principle of thought。
§ 93 Time is the negative element in the sensuous world。 Thought is the same negativity。
§ 94 Thought is that Universal … that Species which is immortal。
§ 95 Spirit； in rendering itself objective and making this an object of thought； destroys the
determinate form of its being； but gains a prehension of its universal element。
§ 96 The individual traverses as a unity various grades of development； and remains the same
individual； in like manner also does a people。
§ 97 The life of a people ripens a certain fruit。 But this fruit does not fall back into the bosom of
the people that produced it； but bees a poison…draught to it。
§ 98 The principles of the successive phases of Spirit that animate Nations； are only steps of the
one universal Spirit。
§ 99 Philosophy； as occupying itself with the True； has only to do with the eternally present。。
Introduction
The subject of this course of Lectures is the Philosophical History of the World。 And by this must
be understood； not a collection of general observations respecting it； suggested by the study of its
records； and proposed to be illustrated by its facts； but Universal History itself。
I cannot mention any work that will serve as a pendium of the course； but I may remark that in
my The Philosophy of Right §§。 341…360； I have already given a definition of such a Universal
History as it is proposed to develop； and a syllabus of the chief elements or periods into which it
naturally divides itself。
To gain a clear idea at the outset； of the nature of our task； it seems necessary to begin with an
examination of the other methods of treating History。 The various methods may be ranged under
three heads：
I。 Original History
II。 Reflective History
III。 Philosophical History
i。 Reason Governs the World
ii。 Essential destiny of Reason
（1） The Abstract Characteristics of the Nature of Spirit
（2） The Means Spirit Uses to Realize Its Idea
（3） The Embodiment Spirit Assumes … the State
iii。 The Course of the World's History
I。Original History
§ 1
Of the first kind； the mention of one or two distinguished names will furnish a definite type。 To this
category belong Herodotus； Thucydides； and other historians of the same order； whose
descriptions are for the most part limited to deeds； events； and states of society； which they had
before their eyes； and whose spirit they shared。 They simply transferred what was passing in the
world around them； to the realm of representative intellect。 An external phenomenon is thus
translated into an internal conception。 In the same way the poet operates upon the material
supplied him by his emotions； projecting it into an image for the conceptive faculty。 These original
historians did； it is true； find statements and narratives of other men ready to hand。 One person
cannot be an eye and ear witness of everything。 But they make use of such aids only as the poet
does of that heritage of an already…formed language； to which he owes so much； merely as an
ingredient。 Historiographers bind together the fleeting elements of story； and treasure them up for
immortality in the Temple of Mnemosyne。 Legends； Ballad…stories； Traditions must be excluded
from such original history。 These are but dim and hazy forms of historical apprehension； and
therefore belong to nations whose intelligence is but half awakened。 Here； on the contrary； we
have to do with people fully conscious of what they were and what they were about。 The domain
of reality — actually seen； or capable of being so — affords a very different basis in point of
firmness from that fugitive and shadowy element； in which were engendered those legends and
poetic dreams whose historical prestige vanishes； as soon as nations have attained a mature
individuality。
§ 2
Such original historians； then； change the events； the deeds and the states of society with which
they are conversant； into an object for the conceptive faculty。 The narratives they leave us cannot；
therefore； be very prehensive in their range。 Herodotus； Thucydides； Guieciardini； may be
taken as fair samples of the class in this respect。 What is present and living in their environment； is
their proper material。 The influences that have formed the writer are identical with those which
have moulded the events that cons