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within the self — as determinate notions； and as the organic self…explaining and self…constituted
process of these notions。 While in the Phenomenology of Mind each moment is the distinction of
knowledge and truth； and is the process in which that distinction is canceled and transcended；
Absolute Knowledge does not contain this distinction and supersession of distinction。 Rather；
since each moment has the form of the notion； it unites the objective form of truth and the knowing
self in an immediate unity。 Each individual moment does not appear as the process of passing back
and forward from consciousness or figurative （imaginative） thought to self…consciousness and
conversely： on the contrary； the pure shape； liberated from the condition of being an appearance in
mere consciousness； — the pure notion with its further development； — depends solely on its pure
characteristic nature。 Conversely； again； there corresponds to every abstract moment of Absolute
Knowledge a mode in which mind as a whole makes its appearance。 As the mind that actually
exists is not richer than it；（10） so； too； mind in its actual content is not poorer。 To know the pure
notions of knowledge in the form in which they are modes or shapes of consciousness — this
constitutes the aspect of their reality； according to which their essential element； the notion；
appearing there in its simple mediating activity as thinking； breaks up and separates the moments
of this mediation and exhibits them to itself in accordance with their immanent opposition。
Absolute Knowledge contains within itself this necessity of relinquishing itself from notion； and
necessarily involves the transition of the notion into consciousness。 For Spirit that knows itself is；
just for the reason that it grasps its own notion； immediate identity with itself； and this； in the
distinction that it implies； is the certainty of what is immediate or is sense…consciousness — the
beginning from which we started。 This process of releasing itself from the form of its self is the
highest freedom and security of its knowledge of itself。
All the same； this relinquishment （externalization） of self is still incomplete。 This process expresses
the relation of the certainty of its self to the object； an object which； just by being in a relation； has
not yet attained its full freedom。 Knowledge is aware not only of itself； but also of the negative of
itself； or its limit。 Knowing its limit means knowing how to sacrifice itself。 This sacrifice is the
self…abandonment； in which Spirit sets forth； in the form of free fortuitous happening； its process of
becoming Spirit； intuitively apprehending outside it its pure self as Time； and likewise its existence
as Space。（11） This last form into which Spirit passes； Nature； is its living immediate process of
development。 Nature…Spirit divested of self （externalized） — is； in its actual existence； nothing but
this eternal process of abandoning its （Nature's） own independent subsistence； and the movement
which reinstates Subject。
The other aspect； however； in which Spirit comes into being； History； is the process of becoming
in terms of knowledge； a conscious self…mediating process — Spirit externalized and emptied into
Time。 But this form of abandonment is； similarly； the emptying of itself by itself； the negative is
negative of itself。 This way of becoming presents a slow procession and succession of spiritual
shapes （Geistern）； a gallery of pictures； each of which is endowed with the entire wealth of Spirit；
and moves so slowly just for the reason that the self has to permeate and assimilate all this wealth
of its substance。 Since its accomplishment consists in Spirit knowing what it is； in fully
comprehending its substance； this knowledge means its concentrating itself on itself （Insichgehen）；
a state in which Spirit leaves its external existence behind and gives its embodiment over to
Recollection （Erinnerung）。 In thus concentrating itself on itself； Spirit is engulfed in the night of its
own self…consciousness； its vanished existence is； however； conserved therein； and this
superseded existence — the previous state； but born anew from the womb of knowledge — is the
new stage of existence； a new world； and a new embodiment or mode of Spirit。 Here it has to
begin all over again at its immediacy；（12） as freshly as before； and thence rise once more to the
measure of its stature； as if ； for it； all that preceded were lost； and as if it had learned nothing from
the experience of the spirits that preceded。 But re…collection （Er… innerung） has conserved that
experience。 and is the inner being； and； in fact； the higher form of the substance。 While； then； this
phase of Spirit begins all over again its formative development； apparently starting solely from
itself； yet at the same time it commences at a higher level。 The realm of spirits developed in this
way； and assuming definite shape in existence； constitutes a succession； where one detaches and
sets loose the other； and each takes over from its predecessor the empire of the spiritual world。
The goal of the process is the revelation of the depth of spiritual life； and this is the Absolute
Notion。 This revelation consequently means superseding its 〃depth〃； is its 〃extension〃 or spatial
embodiment； the negation of this inwardly self…centred （insichseiend） ego — a negativity which is
its self…relinquishment； its externalization； or its substance： and this revelation is also its temporal
embodiment； in that this externalization in its very nature relinquishes （externalizes） itself； and so
exists at once in its spatial extension〃 as well as in its 〃depth〃 or the self。 The goal； which is
Absolute Knowledge or Spirit knowing itself as Spirit； finds its pathway in the recollection of
spiritual forms （Geister） as they are in themselves and as they accomplish the organization of their
spiritual kingdom。 Their conservation； looked at from the side of their free existence appearing in
the form of contingency； is History； looked at from the side of their intellectually comprehended
organization； it is the Science of the ways in which knowledge appears。（13） Both together； or
History （intellectually） comprehended （begriffen）； form at once the recollection and the Golgotha
of Absolute Spirit； the reality； the truth； the certainty of its throne； without which it were lifeless；
solitary； and alone。 Only
The chalice of this realm of spirits
Foams forth to God His own Infinitude（14）
1。 v。 sup。 P。 684。 〃Absolute Knowledge〃 is at once the consummation of experience and； when
developed； constructive philosophy： v。 infra； p。 802 ff。
2。 Descartes。
3。 Spinoza。
4。 Leibnitz。
5。 The principle of the 〃Aufkl？rung〃。
6。 Kant。
7。 Fichte。
8。 Schelling。
9。 I。e。 Absolute or completely coherent Knowledge。
10。 Absolute Knowledge。
11。 Cp。 Ency。 §244； also Naturphilos。； Introd。
12。 Cp。 Aristotle； Metaph。； 107lb； 〃Movement can neither come into being； nor cease to be； nor
can time come into being； or cease to be。〃
13。 〃Phenomenology〃。
14。 Adaptation of Schiller's Die Freundschaft ad fin。； cp。 also Schiller's Philos。 Briefe； 〃Gott〃。
The End