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solely the absolute notion； which finds no opposition in an object； and is not restricted in itself。 In
the unrestricted notion there are found at once both the aspects — that everything objective is to
signify only the self…existent； self…consciousness； and that this is to signify something universal； that
pure insight is to be the property of all self…consciousnesses。 This second feature of the intention is
so far a result of culture； in that in culture both the distinctions of objective spirit； the parts； and
express determinations of its world； have come to naught； as well as the distinctions which
appeared as originally determinate natures。 Genius； talent； special capacities one and all； belong to
the world of actuality； in so far as this world contains still the aspect of being a herd of
self…conscious individuals； where； in confusion and mutual violence； individuals cheat and struggle
with one another over the contents of the real world。
（3） The Rationality of Pure Insight
The above distinctions doubtless have no place in it as genuine espèces。 Individuality neither is
contented with unreal 〃fact〃； nor has special content and purposes of its own。 It counts merely as
something universally acknowledged and accepted； viz。 qua cultivated and developed； and the
fact of distinction is reduced to a matter of less or more energy； a distinction of quantity； i。e。 a
non…essential distinction。 This last difference； however； has come to nothing； by the fact that the
distinction in the state where consciousness was completely torn asunder； turned round into an
absolutely qualitative distinction。 What is there the other for the ego is merely the ego itself。 In this
infinite judgment all the one…sidedness and peculiarity of the original self…existing self is
extinguished； the self knows itself qua pure self to be its own object； and this absolute identity of
both sides is the element of pure insight。
Pure insight； therefore； is the simple ultimate being undifferentiated within itself； and at the same
time the universal achievement and result and a universal possession of all。 In this simple spiritual
substance self…consciousness gives itself and maintains for itself in every object the sense of this its
own individual being or of action； just as conversely the individuality of self…consciousness is there
identical with itself and universal。
This pure insight is； then； the spirit that calls to every consciousness： be for yourselves what you
are all essentially in yourselves — rational。
1。 The contrast between these two elements is found both in the pre…Reformation period and in
the eighteenth…century period； in the latter the contrast assumes perhaps its acutest form。
2。 Kant： 〃Pure ego is the absolute unity of apperception。〃
3。 〃Belief is a kind of knowledge。〃…Encycl。： §554。
4。 Kant： 〃I am the essential reality when conscious of myself in pure thought。〃
5。 The 〃persons〃 of the 〃Trinity〃。
6。 God transcendent； God as Substance； God the Father。
7。 The God…man； Christ。
8。 God as Absolute Spirit； God the Holy Ghost。
9。 〃Kant's philosophy is the enlightenment adapted so as to become a philosophical
method。〃…Hegel； W。W。 15； p。 502。
II。
Enlightenment （1）
THE peculiar object against which pure insight directs the active force of the notion is belief； this
being a form of pure consciousness like itself and yet opposed to it in that element。 But at the same
time pure insight has a relation to the actual world； for； like belief； it is a return from the actual
world into pure consciousness。 We have first of all to see bow its activity is constituted as
operating against the impure motives and the perverted forms of insight found in the actual
world。（2）
We have touched already on the placid type of consciousness； Which stands in contrast to this
turmoil of alternate self…dissolution and self…recreation； it constitutes the aspect of pure insight and
intention。 This unperturbed consciousness； however； as we saw； has no special insight regarding
the sphere of culture。 The latter has itself rather the most painful feeling； and the truest insight about
itself — the feeling that everything made secure crumbles to pieces； that every limb of its existence
is wracked and rent； and every bone broken： moreover； it consciously expresses this feeling in
words； pronounces judgment and gives sparkling utterance concerning all aspects of its condition。
Pure insight； therefore； can have here no activity and content of its own； and thus can only take up
the attitude of formally and truly apprehending this witty insight peculiar to the world and the
language it adopts。 Since this language is a scattered and broken utterance and the pronouncement
a fickle mood of the moment； which is again quickly forgotten； and is only known to be a whole by
a third consciousness； this latter can be distinguished as pure insight only if it gathers those several
scattered traces into a universal picture； and then makes them the insight of all。
By this simple means pure insight will resolve the confusion of this world。 For we have found that
the areas and determinate conceptions and individualities are not the essential nature of this
actuality； but that it finds its substance and support alone in the spirit which exists qua judging and
discussing； and that the interest of having a content for this ratiocination and parlaying to deal with
alone preserves the whole and the areas of its articulation。 In this language which insight adopts； its
self…consciousness is still this isolated individual； a self existing for itself； but the emptiness of its
content is at the same time emptiness of the self knowing that content to be vain and empty。 Now；
when the consciousness placidly apprehending all these sparkling utterances of vanity makes a
collection of the most striking and penetrating phrases； the soul that still preserves the whole； the
vanity of witty criticism； goes to ruin with the other form of vanity； the previous vanity of existence。
The collection shows most people a better wit； or at least shows every one a more varied wit than
their own； and shows that 〃knowing…better〃 and 〃judging〃 generally are something universal and
are now universally familiar。 Thereby the sole and only surviving interest is done away with； and
individual light is resolved into universal insight。
Still； however； knowledge of essential reality stands secure above vain and empty knowledge； and
pure insight only appears in genuinely active form in so far as it enters into conflict with belief。
1。 Enlightenment （Aufkl？rung） is the universalization of the principle of 〃pure insight〃； and hence is
logically the outcome of the preceding analysis。
2。 Cf。 Pp。 541 ff。
II。 a
The Struggle of Enlightenment with
Superstition （1）
THE various negative forms which consciousness adopts； the attitude of scepticism； and that of
theoretical and practical idealism； are inferior attitudes compared with that of pure insight and the
expansion of pure insight…enlightenment； for pure insight is born of the substance of spirit； it knows
the pure self of consciousness to be absolute； and enters into conflict with the pure consciousness
of the Absolute Being of all reality。
Since belief and insight are the same pure consciousness； but in form are opposed — the reality in
the case of belief being a thought； not a notion； and hence something absolutely opposed to
self…consciousness； while the reality in the case of pure insight is the self — they are such that inter
se the one is the absolute negative of the other。
As appearing the one against the other； all content falls to belief； for in its unperturbed element of
thought every moment obtains definite subsistence。 Pure insight； however； is in the first instance
without any content； it is rather the sheer disappearance of content； but by its negative attitude
towards what it excludes it will make itself real and give itself a content。
（1） The Negative Attitude of Insight towards Belief
It knows belief to be opposed to insight； opposed to reason and truth。 Just as； for it； belief is in
general a tissue of superstitious prejudices and errors； so it further sees the consciousness
embracing this content organized into a realm of error； in which false insight is the general sphere
of consciousness； immediate； naively unperturbed； and inherently unreflective。 Yet all the while this
false insight does have within it the moment of self…reflexion； the moment of self…consciousness；
separated from its simple na？veté； and keeps this reflexion in the background as an insight
remaining by itself； and as an evil intention by which that former conscious state is befooled。 That
mental sphere is the victim of the deception of a Priesthood； which carries out its envious vain
conceit of being alone in possession of insight； and carries out its other selfish ends as well。 At the
same time this priesthood conspires with Despotism； which takes up the attitude of being the
s