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darkness； the unmoved； the black formless stone。（13）
Both representations contain inwardness and existence — the two moments of spirit： and both
kinds of manifestation contain both moments at once in a relation of opposition； the self both as
inward and as outward。 Both have to be united。 The soul of the statue in human form does not yet
come out of the inner being； is not yet speech； objective existence of self which is inherently
internal； — and the inner being of multiform existence is still without voice or sound； still draws no
distinctions within itself； and is still separated from its outer being； to which all distinctions belong。
The artificer； therefore； combines both by blending the forms of nature and self…consciousness；
and these ambiguous beings； a riddle to themselves — the conscious struggling with what has no
consciousness； the simple inner with the multiform outer； the darkness of thought mated with the
clearness of expression — these break out into the language of a wisdom that is darkly deep and
difficult to understand。（14）
With the production of this work； the instinctive method of working ceases； which； in contrast to
self…consciousness； produced a work devoid of consciousness。 For here the activity of the
artificer； which constitutes self…consciousness； comes face to face with an inner being equally
self…conscious and giving itself expression。 He has therein raised himself by his work up to the
point where his conscious life breaks asunder； where spirit greets spirit。 In this unity of
self…conscious spirit with itself； so far as it is aware of being embodiment and object of its own
consciousness； its blending and mingling with the unconscious state of immediate shapes of nature
become purified。 These monsters in form and shape； word and deed； are resolved and dissolved
into a shape which is spiritual…an outer which has entered into itself； an inner which expresses itself
out of itself and in itself；…they pass into thought； which brings forth itself； preserves the shape and
form suited to thought； and is transparent existence。 Spirit is Artist。
1。 Primarily Oriental religion。
2。 Parsee religion。
3。 Term applied in e。g。 Judaism and Mohammedanism。
4。 Cp。 Philos。 Of Relig。； W。W。； XI； 403；404； 411。
5。 Angels。
6。 Cp。 Ency。； § 389。
7。 Primarily religions of India。
8。 Sacred animals in Indian religion。
9。 Egyptian religions。
10。 The Egyptian columns and architecture。
11。 The representations of the gods with forms half animal； half human。
12。 The statues of Memnon which gave forth a moaning harp…like noise at sunrise。
13。 The Black Stone of Mecca： a fetish still worshipped by the faithful。
14。 Sphinxes。
B
Religion in the form of Art （1）
SPIRIT has raised the shape in which it is object for its own consciousness into the form of
consciousness itself； and spirit produces such a shape for itself。 The artificer has given up the
synthesizing activity； that blending of the heterogeneous forms of thought and nature。 When the
shape has gained the form of self…conscious activity； the artificer has become a spiritual workman。
If we next ask； what the actual spirit is； which finds in the religion of art the consciousness of its
Absolute； it turns out that this is the ethical or objective spirit。 This spirit is not merely the universal
substance of all individuals； but when this substance is said to have； as an objective fact for actual
consciousness； the form of consciousness； this amounts to saying that the substance； which is
individualized； is known by the individuals within it as their proper essence and their own
achievement。 It is for them neither the Light of the World； in whose； unity the self…existence of
self…consciousness is contained only negatively； only transitorily； and beholds the lord and master
of its reality； nor is it the restless waste and destruction of hostile nations； nor their subjection to
〃castes〃； which together constitute the semblance of organization of a completed whole； where；
however； the universal freedom of the individuals concerned is wanting。 Rather this spirit is a free
nation； in which custom and order constitute the common substance of all； whose reality and
existence each and every one knows to be his own will and his own deed。
The religion of the ethical spirit； however； raises it above its actual realization； and is the return
from its objectivity into pure knowledge of itself。 Since an ethically constituted nation lives in direct
unity with its own substance； and does not contain the principle of pure individualism of
self…consciousness； the religion characteristic of its sphere first appears in complete form in its
parting from its stable security。 For the reality of the ethical substance rests partly on its quiet
unchangeableness as contrasted with the absolute process of self…consciousness； and consequently
on the fact that this self…consciousness has not yet left its serene life of customary convention and
its confident security therein； and gone into itself。 Partly； again； that reality rests on its organization
into a plurality of rights and duties； as also on its organized distribution into the spheres of the
various classes； each with its particular way of acting which co…operates to form the whole； and
hence rests on the fact that the individual is contented with the limitation of his existence； and has
not yet grasped the unrestricted thought of his free self。 But that serene immediate confidence in
the substance of this ethical life turns back into trust in self and certainty of self； and the plurality of
rights and duties； as well as the restricted particular action this involves； is the same dialectic
process in the sphere of the ethical life as the plurality of 〃things〃and their various 〃qualities〃 — a
process which only comes to rest and stability in the simplicity of spirit certain of self
The complete fulfilment of the ethical life in free self…consciousness； and the destined
consummation （Schicksal） of the ethical world； are therefore that individuality which has entered
into itself； the condition is one of absolute levity on the part of the ethical spirit； it has dissipated
and resolved into itself all the firmly established distinctions constituting its own stability； and the
separate spheres of its own articulated organization and； being perfectly sure of itself； has
attained to boundless cheerfulness of heart and the freest enjoyment of itself。 This simple certainly
of spirit within itself has a double meaning； it is quiet stability and solid truth； as well as absolute
unrest； and the disappearance of the ethical order。 It turns round； however； into the latter； for the
truth of the ethical spirit lies primarily just in this substantial objectivity and trust； in which the self
does not know itself as free individual； and which； therefore； in this inner subjectivity； in the self
becoming free； falls into ruins。 Since then its trust is broken； and the substance of the nation
cracked； spirit； which was the connecting medium of unstable extremes； has now come forward as
an extreme — that of self…consciousness grasping itself as essential and ultimate。 This is spirit
certain within itself； which mourns over the loss of its world； and now out of the purity of self
produces its own essential being； raised above actual reality。
At such an epoch art in absolute form（2） comes on the scene。 At the earlier stage it is instinctive in
its operation； its operation is steeped in existence； works its way out of existence and works right
into the existent； it does not find its substance in the free life of an ethical order； and hence； too； as
regards the self operating does not exercise free spiritual activity。
Later on； spirit goes beyond art in order to gain its higher manifestation； viz。 that of being not
merely the substance born and produced out of the self； but of being。 in its manifestation as object；
this very self； it seeks at that higher level not merely to bring forth itself out of its own notion； but to
have its very notion as its shape； so that the notion and the work of art produced may know each
other reciprocally as one and the same。（3）
Since； then； the ethical substance has withdrawn from its objective existence into its pure
self…consciousness； this is the aspect of the notion； or the activity with which spirit brings itself forth
as object。 It is pure form； because the individual in ethical obedience and service has so worked
off every unconscious existence and every fixed determination； as the substance has itself become
this fluid and undifferentiated essence。 This form is the night in which the substance was betrayed；
and made itself subject。 It is out of this night of pure certainty of self that the ethical spirit rises
again in a shape freed from nature and its own immediate existence。
The existence of the pure notion into which spirit has fled from its bodily shape； is an individual；
which spirit selects as the vessel for its sorrow。 Spirit acts in this individual as his universal and his
power； from which he suffers violence； as his ele