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The spirit of well…doing that characterizes the action of wealth may； further； be distinguished from
that of the conscious life accepting the benefit it confers； and deserves special consideration。
The spirit animating wealth had an unreal insubstantial independence； wealth was something given
freely to all。 By communicating what it has； however； it passes into something essential and
inherent； since it fulfilled its destiny； that of sacrificing itself； it cancels the aspect of singleness； that
of merely seeking enjoyment for one's own self； and； being thus sublated qua single； spirit here is
universality or essentially real。
What it imparts； what it gives to others； is self…existence。 It does not hand itself over； however； as
a natural self…less object； as the frankly and freely offered condition of unconscious life； but as
self…conscious； as a reality keeping hold of itself： it is not like the power of an inorganic element
which is felt by the consciousness receiving its force to be inherently transitory； it is the power over
self； a power aware that it is independent and voluntary； and knowing at the same time that what it
dispenses becomes the self of someone else。
Wealth thus shares repudiation with its clientele； but in place of revolt appears arrogance。 For in
one aspect it knows； as well as the self it benefits； that its self…existence is a matter of accident but
itself is this accident in whose power personality is placed。 In this mood of arrogance — which
thinks it has secured through a dole an alien ego…nature； and thereby brought its inmost being into
submission — it overlooks the secret rebellion of the other self： it overlooks the fact of all bonds
being completely cast aside； overlooks this pure disintegration； in which； the self…identity of what
exists for its own sake having become sheer internal discordance； all oneness and concord； all
subsistence is rent asunder； and in which in consequence the repute of and respect for the
benefactor are the first to be shattered。 It stands directly in front of this abyss； cleaving it to the
innermost； this bottomless pit； where every solid base and stay have vanished： and in the depths it
sees nothing but a common thing； a plaything for its whims； a chance result of its own caprice。 Its
spirit consists in quite unreal imagining； in being superficiality forsaken of all true spiritual import。
Just as self…consciousness had its own manner of speech in dealing with state…power； in other
words； just as spirit took the form of expressly and actually mediating between these two
extremes； self…consciousness has also a mode of speech in dealing with wealth； but still more when
in revolt does it adopt a language of its own。 The form of utterance which supplies wealth with the
sense of its own essential significance； and thereby makes itself master of it； is likewise the
language of flattery； but of ignoble flattery； for what it gives out to be the essential reality； it knows
to be a reality without an inherent nature of its own； to be something at the mercy of others。 The
language of flattery； however； as already remarked； is that of a spirit still one…sided。 To be sure its
constituent elements are； on the one hand； a self moulded by service into a shape where it is
reduced to bare existence； and； on the other； the inherent reality of the power dominating the self。
Yet the bare principle； the pure conception； in which the simple self and the inherent reality
（Ansich）； that pure ego and this pure reality or thought； are one and the same thing — this
conceptual unity of the two aspects between which the reciprocity takes effect； is not consciously
felt when this language is used。 The object is consciously still the inherent reality in opposition to
the self； in other words； the object is not for consciousness at the same time its own proper self as
such。
The language expressing the condition of disintegration； wherein spiritual life is rent asunder； is；
however； the perfect form of utterance for this entire realm of spiritual culture and development； of
the formative process of moulding self…consciousness （Bildung）； and is the spirit in which it most
truly exists。 This self…consciousness； which finds befitting the rebellion that repudiates its own
repudiation； is eo ipso absolute self…identity in absolute disintegration； the pure activity of
mediating pure self…consciousness with itself。 It is the oneness expressed in the identical judgment；
where one and the same personality is subject as well as predicate。 But this identical judgment is at
the same time the infinite judgment； for this personality is absolutely split in two； and subject and
predicate are entities utterly indifferent one to the other； which have nothing to do with each other；
with no necessary unity； so much so that each has the power of an independent personality of its
own。 What exists as a self on its own account has for its object its own self…existence； which is
object in the sense of an absolute other； and et at the same time directly in the form of itself — itself
in the sense of an other； not as if this had an other content； for the content is the same self in the
form of an absolute opposite； with an existence completely all its own and indifferent。
We have； then； here the spirit of this real world of formative culture； conscious of its own nature as
it truly is； and conscious of its ultimate and essential principle （Begriff）。
This type of spiritual life is the absolute and universal inversion of reality and thought； their entire
estrangement the one from the other； it is pure culture。 What is found out in this sphere is that
neither the concrete realities； state…power and wealth； nor their determinate conceptions； good and
bad； nor the consciousness of good and bad （the consciousness that is noble and the
consciousness that is base） possess real truth； it is found that all these moments are inverted and
transmuted the one into the other； and each is the opposite of itself。
The universal power； which is the substance； when it gains a spiritual nature peculiarly its own
through the principle of individuality； accepts the possession of a self of its own merely as a。 name
by which it is described； and； even in being actual power； is really so powerless as to have to
sacrifice itself。 But this self…less reality given over to others； this self that is turned into a thing； is in
fact the return of the reality into itself； it is a self…existence that is there for its own sake； it is the
existence of spirit。
The principles belonging to these realities； the thoughts of good and bad； are similarly transmuted
and reversed in this process； what is characterized as good is bad； and vice versa。 The
consciousness of each of these moments by itself； the conscious types judged as noble and base
— these are rather in their real truth similarly the reverse of what these specific forms intend to be；
nobility is base and repudiated； just as what is repudiated as base turns round into the nobleness
that characterizes the most highly developed form of free self…consciousness。
Looked at formally； everything is likewise in its external