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knowledge of itself in its pure transparent unity — self…consciousness； which knows this pure
knowledge of pure inwardness to be spirit； is not merely intuition of the divine； but the self intuition
of God Himself。
Since this notion keeps itself fixedly opposed to its realization； it is the one…sided shape which we
saw before disappear into thin air； but also positively relinquish itself and advance further。 Through
this act of realization； this objectless self…consciousness ceases to hold fast by itself； the
determinateness of the notion in contrast with its fulfilment is canceled and done away with。 Its self
…consciousness attains the form of universality； and what remains is its true notion； the notion that
has attained its realization — the notion in its truth； i。e。 in unity with its externalization。 It is
knowledge of pure knowledge； not in the sense of an abstract essence such as duty is； but in the
sense of an essential being which is this knowledge； this individual pure …self…consciousness which
is therefore at the same time a genuine object； for this notion is the self…existing self。
This notion gave itself its fulfilment partly in the acts performed by the spirit that is sure of itself。
partly in religion。 In the latter it won the absolute content qua content or in the form of a figurative
idea or of otherness for consciousness。 On the other hand； in the first the form is just the self； for
that mode contains the active spirit sure of itself； the self accomplishes the life of Absolute Spirit。
This shape （mode）； as we see； is that simple notion； which however gives up its eternal essential
Being； takes upon itself objective existence； or acts。 The power of diremption or of coming forth
out of its inwardness lies in the purity of the notion； for this purity is absolute abstraction of
negativity。 In the same way the notion finds its element of reality； or the objective being it contains；
in pure knowledge itself； for this knowledge is simple immediacy； which is being and existence as
well as essence； the former negative thought； the latter positive thought。 This existence； finally； is
just as much that state of reflexion into self which comes out of pure knowledge — both qua
existence and qua duty — and this is the state of evil。 This process of 〃going into self〃 constitutes
the opposition lying in the notion； and is thus the appearance on the scene of pure knowledge of
the essence； a knowledge which does not act and is not real。 But to make its appearance in this
opposition is to participate in it； pure knowledge of essence has inherently relinquished its
simplicity； for it is the diremption of negativity which constitutes the notion。 So far as this process
of diremption is the process of becoming self…centred； it is the principle of evil： so far as it is the
inherently essential； it is the principle which remains good。
Now what in the first instance takes place implicitly is at once for consciousness； and is duplicated
as well — is both for consciousness and is its self…existence or its own proper action。 The same
thing that is already inherently established； thus repeats itself now as knowledge thereof on the part
of consciousness and as conscious action。 Each lays aside for the other the independence of
character with which each appears confronting the other。 This waiving of independence is the
same renunciation of the one…sidedness of the notion as constituted implicitly the beginning； but it is
now its own act of renunciation； just as the notion renounced is its own notion。 That implicit nature
of the beginning is in truth as much mediated； because it is negativity； it now establishes itself as it is
in its truth； and the negative element exists as a determinate quality which each has for the other；
and is essentially self…cancelling； self…transcending。 The one of the two parts of the opposition is
the disparity between existence within itself； in its individuality； and universality； the other； disparity
between its abstract universality and the self。 The former dies to its self…existence； and relinquishes
itself； makes confession； the latter renounces the rigidity of its abstract universality； and thereby
dies to its lifeless self and its inert universality； so that the former is completed through the moment
of universality； which is the essence； and the latter through universality； which is self。 By this
process of action spirit has come to light in the form of pure universality of knowledge； which is
self…consciousness as self…consciousness； which is simple unity of knowledge。 It is through action
that spirit is spirit so as definitely to exist； it raises its existence into the sphere of thought and hence
into absolute opposition； and returns out of it through and within this very opposition。
Thus； then； what was in religion content； or a way of imagining （Vorstellen） an other； is here the
action proper of the self。 The notion is the connecting principle securing that the content is the
action proper of the self。 For this notion is； as we see； the knowledge that the action of the self
within itself is all that is essential and all existence； the knowledge of this Subject as Substance and
of the Substance as this knowledge of its action。 What we have done here； in addition； is simply to
gather together the particular moments； each of which in principle exhibits the life of spirit in its
entirety； and again to secure the notion in the form of the notion； whose content was disclosed in
these moments； and which had already presented itself in the form of a mode or shape of
consciousness。
This last embodiment of spirit — spirit which at once gives its complete and true content the form
of self； and thereby realizes its notion； and in doing so remains within its own notion — this is
Absolute Knowledge。
2。 Systematic Science as the Self…Comprehension of Spirit
It is spirit knowing itself in the shape of spirit； it is knowledge which comprehends through notions。
Truth is here not merely in itself absolutely identical with certainty； it has also the shape； the
character of certainty of self； or in its existence — i。e。 for spirit knowing it — it is in the form of
knowledge of itself。 Truth is the content； which in religion is not as yet at one with its certainty。 This
identification； however； is secured when the content has received the shape of self。 By this means；
what constitutes the very essence； viz。 the notion； comes to have the nature of existence； i。e。
assumes the form of what is objective to consciousness。 Spirit； appearing before consciousness in
this element of existence； or； what is here the same thing； produced by it in this element； is
systematic Science。
The nature； moments； and process of this knowledge have then shown themselves to be such that
this knowledge is pure self…existence of self…consciousness。
It is ego； which is this ego and no other； and at the same time； immediately is mediated； or
sublated； universal ego。 It has a content； which it distinguishes from itself； for it is pure negativity；
or self…diremption； it is consciousness。 This content in its distinction is itself the ego； for it