MONEY
Ifman’sfeelings，passions，etc.，arenotmerelyanthropologicalcharacteristicsinthenarrowersense，butaretrulyontologicalaffirmationsofhisessence（nature），andiftheyonlyreallyaffirmthemselvesinsofarastheirobjectexistssensuouslyforthem，thenitisclear：
（1）Thattheirmodeofaffirmationisbynomeansoneandthesame，butratherthatthedifferentmodesofaffirmationconstitutetheparticularcharacteroftheirexistence，oftheirlife.Themodeinwhichtheobjectexistsforthemisthecharacteristicmodeoftheirgratification.
（2）Wherethesensuousaffirmationisadirectannulment[Aufheben]oftheobjectinitsindependentform（eating，drinking，fashioningofobjects，etc.），thisistheaffirmationoftheobject.
（3）Insofarasman，andhencealsohisfeelings，etc.，arehuman，theaffirmationoftheobjectbyanotherisalsohisowngratification.
（4）Onlythroughdevelopedindustry——i.e.，throughmediationofprivateproperty，doestheontologicalessenceofhumanpassioncomeintobeing，bothinitstotalityandinitshumanity;thescienceofmanis，therefore，itselfaproductoftheself—formationofmanthroughpracticalactivity.
（5）Themeaningofprivateproperty，freedfromitsestrangement，istheexistenceofessentialobjectsforman，bothasobjectsofenjoymentandofactivity.
Money，inasmuchasitpossessthepropertyofbeingabletobuyeverythingandappropriateallobjects，istheobjectmostworthpossessing.
Theuniversalityofthispropertyisthebasisofmoney’somnipotence;
hence，itisregardedasanomnipotentbeingMoneyisthepimpbetweenneedandobject，betweenlifeandman’smeansoflife.Butthatwhichmediatesmylifealsomediatestheexistenceofothermenforme.Itisformetheotherperson.
What，man！confoundit，handsandfeetAndheadandbackside，allareyours！
Andwhatwetakewhilelifeissweet，Isthattobedeclarednotours？
Sixstallions，say，Icanafford，Isnottheirstrengthmyproperty？
Itearalong，asportinglord，Asiftheirlegsbelongedtome.
（Goethe，Faust——Mephistopheles）
[PartI，scene4]Shakespeare，inTimonofAthens：
Gold？Yellow，glittering，preciousgold！No，gods，Iamnoidlevotarist;roots，youclearheavens！
Thusmuchofthiswillmakeblack，white;foul，fair;
Wrong，right;base，noble;old，young;coward，valiant
Why，thisWilllugyourpriestsandservantsfromyoursides;
Pluckstoutmen’spillowsfrombelowtheirheads：
ThisyellowslaveWillknitandbreakreligions;blessth’accurst;
Makethehoarleprosyadored;placethieves，Andgivethemtitle，knee，andapprobation，Withsenatorsonthebench：thisisitThatmakesthewappen’dwidowwedagain;
Shewhomthespital—houseandulceroussoresWouldcastthegorgeat，thisembalmsandspicesToth’Aprildayagain.Come，damnedearth，Thoucommonwhoreofmankind，thatputt’stoddsAmongtheroutofnations，IwillmaketheeDothyrightnature.And，lateron：
Othousweetking—killer，anddeardivorce’Twixtnaturalsonandsire！ThoubrightdefilerOfHymen’spurestbed！ThouvaliantMars！
Thoueveryoung，fresh，lovedanddelicatewooer，WhoseblushdoththawtheconsecratedsnowThatliesonDian’slap！Thousvisiblegod，Thatsolder’stcloseimpossibilities，Andmak’stthemkiss！Thatspeak’stwitheverytongue，Toeverypurpose！Othoutouchofhearts！
Think，thyslavemanrebels;andbythyvirtueSetthemintoconfoundingodds，thatbeastsMayhaveinworldempire！Shakespearepaintsabrilliantpictureofthenatureofmoney.Tounderstandhim，letusbeginbyexpoundingthepassagefromGoethe.
Thatwhichexistsformethroughthemediumofmoney，thatwhichIcanpayfor，i.e.，thatwhichmoneycanbuy，thatamI，thepossessorofmoney.Thestrongerthepowerofmymoney，thestrongeramI.Thepropertiesofmoneyaremy，thepossessor’s，propertiesandessentialpowers.Therefore，whatIamandwhatIcandoisbynomeansdeterminedbymyindividuality.
Iamugly，butIcanbuythemostbeautifulwoman.WhichmeanstosaythatIamnotugly，fortheeffectofugliness，itsrepellingpower，isdestroyedbymoney.Asanindividual，Iamlame，butmoneyprocursme24legs.Consequently，Iamnotlame.Iamawicked，dishonest，unscrupulousandstupidindividual，butmoneyisrespected，andsoalsoisitsowner.Moneyisthehighestgood，andconsequentlyitsownerisalsogood.Moreover，moneysparesmethetroubleofbeingdishonest，andIamthereforepresumedtobehonest.
Iammindless，butifmoneyisthetruemindofallthings，howcanitsownerbemindless？Whatismore，hecanbuycleverpeopleforhimself，andisnothewhohaspowerovercleverpeopleclevererthanthem？Throughmoney，Icanhaveanythingthehumanheartdesires.DoInotpossessallhumanabilities？Doesnotmoneythereforetransformallmyincapacitiesintotheiropposite？
Ifmoneyisthebondwhichtiesmetohumanlifeandsocietytome，whichlinksmetonatureandtoman，ismoneynotthebondofallbonds？
Canitnotbindandlooseallbonds？Isitthereforenottheuniversalmeansofseparation？Itisthetrueagentofseparationandthetruecementingagent，itisthechemicalpowerofsociety.
Shakespearebringsouttwopropertiesofmoneyinparticular：
（1）Itisthevisibledivinity，thetransformationofallhumanandnaturalqualitiesintotheiropposites，theuniversalconfusionandinversionofthings;itbringstogetherimpossibilities.
（2）Itistheuniversalwhore，theuniversalpimpofmenandpeoples.
Theinversionandconfusionofallhumanandnaturalqualities，thebringingtogetherofimpossibilities，thedivinepowerofmoneyliesinitsnatureastheestrangedandalienatingspecies—essenceofmanwhichalienatesitselfbysellingitself.Itisthealienatedcapacityofmankind.
WhatI，asaman，do——i.e.，whatallmyindividualpowerscannotdo——Icandowiththehelpofmoney.Money，therefore，transformseachoftheseessentialpowersintosomethingwhichitisnot，intoitsopposite.
IfIdesireameal，orwanttotakethemailcoachbecauseIamnotstrongenoughtomakethejourneyonfoot，moneycanprovidemeboththemealandthemailcoach——i.e.，ittransfersmywishesfromtherealmofimagination，ittranslatesthemfromtheirexistenceasthought，imagination，anddesires，intotheirsensuous，realexistence，fromimaginationintolife，andfromimaginedbeingintorealbeing.Inthismediatingrole，moneyisthetrulycreativepower.
Demandalsoexistsforthosewhohavenomoney，buttheirdemandissimplyafigmentoftheimagination.Forme，orforanyotherthirdparty，ithasnoeffect，noexistence.Forme，itthereforeremainsunrealandwithoutanobject.Thedifferencebetweeneffectivedemandbasedonmoneyandineffectivedemandbasedonmyneed，mypassion，mydesire，etc.，isthedifferencebetweenbeingandthinking，betweenarepresentationwhichmerelyexistswithinmeandonewhichexistsoutsidemeasarealobject.
IfIhavemoneyfortravel，Ihavenoneed——i.e.，norealandself—realizingneed——totravel.IfIhaveavocationtostudy，butnomoneyforit，Ihavenovocationtostudy——i.e.，noreal，truevocation.But，ifIreallydonothaveanyvocationtostudy，buthavethewillandthemoney，thenIhaveaneffectivevocationdotoso.Money，whichistheexternal，universalmeansandpower——derivednotfrommanasman，andnotfromhumansocietyassociety——toturnimaginationintorealityandrealityintomoreimagination，similarlyturnsrealhumanandnaturalpowersintopurelyabstractrepresentations，andthereforeimperfectionsandphantoms——trulyimpotentpowerswhichexistonlyintheindividual’sfantasy——intorealessentialpowersandabilities.Thuscharacterized，moneyistheuniversalinversionofindividualities，whichitturnsintotheiroppositesandtowhosequalitiesitattachescontradictoryqualities.
Money，therefore，appearsasaninvertingpowerinrelationtotheindividualandtothosesocialandotherbondswhichclaimtobeessencesinthemselves.Ittransformsloyaltyintotreason，loveintohate，hateintolove，virtueintovice，viceintovirtue，servantintomaster，masterintoservant，nonsenseintoreason，andreasonintononsense.
Sincemoney，astheexistingandactiveconceptofvalue，confoundsandexchangeseverything，itistheuniversalconfusionandexchangeofallthings，aninvertedworld，theconfusionandexchangeofallnaturalandhumanqualities.
Hewhocanbuycourageisbrave，evenifheisacoward.Moneyisnotexchangeforaparticularquality，aparticularthing，orforanyparticularoneoftheessentialpowersofman，butforthewholeobjectiveworldofmanandofnature.Seenfromthestandpointofthepersonwhopossessesit，moneyexchangeseveryqualityforeveryotherqualityandobject，evenifitiscontradictory;itisthepowerwhichbringstogetherimpossibilitiesandforcescontradictionstoembrace.
Ifweassumemantobeman，andhisrelationtotheworldtobeahumanone，thenlovecanbeexchangedonlyforlove，trustfortrust，andsoon.Ifyouwishtoenjoyart，youmustbeanartisticallyeducatedperson;ifyouwishtoexerciseinfluenceonothermen，youmustbethesortofpersonwhohasatrulystimulatingandencouragingeffectonothers.
Eachoneofyourrelationstoman——andtonature——mustbeaparticularexpression，correspondingtotheobjectofyourwill，ofyourrealindividuallife.Ifyouloveunrequitedly——i.e.，ifyourloveaslovedoesnotcallforthloveinreturn，if，throughthevitalexpressionofyourselfasalovingperson，youfailtobecomealovedperson——thenyourloveisimpotent，itisamisfortune.
CRITIQUEOFHEGEL’SDIALECTICANDGENERALPHILOSOPHY
Thisis，perhaps，theplacetomakeafewremarks，bywayofexplanationandjustification，abouttheHegeliandialectic——
bothingeneralandinparticular，asexpoundedinthePhenomenologyandLogic，aswellasaboutitsrelationtothemoderncriticalmovement.
ModernGermancriticismwassopre—occupiedwiththeoldworld，andsoentangledduringthecourseofitsdevelopmentwithitssubject—matter，thatithadacompletelyuncriticalattitudetothemethodofcriticism，andwascompletelyunawareoftheseeminglyformalbutinfactessentialquestionofhowwenowstandinrelationtotheHegeliandialectic.ThelackofawarenessabouttherelationofmoderncriticismtoHegelianphilosophyingeneralandtothedialecticinparticularhasbeensopronouncedthatcriticslikeStraussandBrunoBauerarestill，atleastimplicitly，imprisonedwithinHegelianlogic，thefirstcompletelysoandthesecondinhisSynoptiker（where，inoppositiontoStrauss，hesubstitutesthe"self—consciousness"
ofabstractmanforthesubstanceofabstractnature）andeveninhisDasentdeckteChristentum.Forexample，inDasentdeckteChristentumwefindthefollowingpassage：
"Asifself—consciousness，inpositingtheworld，thatwhichisdifferent，andinproducingitselfinthatwhichitproduces，sinceitthendoesawaywiththedifferencebetweenwhatithasproducedanditselfandsinceitisonlyintheproducingandinthemovementthatitisitself——asifitdidnothaveitspurposeinthismovement，"etc.
[BrunoBauer，DasentdeckteChristentum，EineErinnerungandasachtzehnteJahrhundertuneeinBeitragzurKrisisdesneunzehnten，ZurichandWinterthur，1843，p.113]Oragain：
"They（theFrenchMaterialists）couldnotyetseethatthemovementoftheuniverseonlyreallycomestoexistforitselfandentersintounitywithitselfasthemovementofself—consciousness."
[Bauer，ibid.，p.114f.]TheseexpressionsarenotevendifferentintheirlanguagefromtheHegelianconception.Theyreproduceitwordforword.
HowlittleawarenesstherewasoftherelationtoHegel’sdialecticwhilethiscriticismwasunderway（Bauer’sSynoptiker），andhowlittleeventhecompletedcriticismofthesubject—mattercontributedtosuchanawareness，isclearfromBauer’sGuteSachederFreiheit，wherehedismissesHerrGruppe’simpertinentquestion"andnowwhatwillhappentologic？"byreferringhimtofutureCritics.
But，nowthatFeuerbach，bothinhis"Thesen"intheAnekdotaandingreaterdetailinhisPhilosophiederZukunft，hasdestroyedthefoundationsoftheolddialecticandphilosophy，thatveryschoolofCriticism，whichwasitselfincapableoftakingsuchastepbutinsteadwatchedwhileitwastaken，hasproclaimeditselfthepure，resolute，absoluteCriticismwhichhasachievedself—clarity，andinitsspiritualpridehasreducedthewholeprocessofhistorytotherelationbetweentherestoftheworld，whichcomesintothecategoryofthe"masses"，anditself.Ithasassimilatedalldogmaticantithesesintotheonedogmaticantithesisbetweenitsownsagacityandthestupidityoftheworld，betweenthecriticalChristandmankind——the"rabble".IthasdailyandhourlydemonstrateditsownexcellenceagainstthemindlessnessofthemassesandhasfinallyannouncedthatthecriticalDayofJudgmentisdrawingnear，whenthewholeoffallenhumanitywillbearrayedbeforeitanddividedintogroups，whereuponeachgroupwillreceiveitscertificateofpoverty.TheschoolofCriticismhasmadeknowninprintitssuperioritytohumanfeelingsandtheworld，abovewhichitsitsenthronedinsublimesolitude，withnothingbutanoccassionalroarofsarcasticlaughterfromitsOlympianlips.Afterallthesedelightfulcapersofidealism（YoungHegelianism）whichisexpiringintheformofCriticism，it（thecriticalschool）hasnotoncevoicedsomuchasasuspicionoftheneedforacriticaldebatewithitsprogenitor，theHegeliandialectic.IthasnotevenindicatedacriticalattitudetoFeuerbach’sdialectic.Acompletelyuncriticalattitudetowardsitself.
FeuerbachistheonlypersonwhohasaseriousandcriticalattitudetotheHegeliandialecticandwhohasmaderealdiscoveriesinthisfield.
Heisthetrueconqueroroftheoldphilosophy.Themagnitudeofhisachievementandthequietsimplicitywithwhichhepresenttototheworldareinmarkedcontrasttotheothers.
Feuerbach’sgreatachievementis：
（1）Tohaveshownthatphilosophyisnothingmorethanreligionbroughtintothoughtanddevelopedinthought，andthatitisequallytobecondemnedasanotherformandmodeofexistenceoftheestrangementofman’snature.
（2）Tohavefoundedtruematerialismandrealsciencebymakingthesocialrelationof"mantoman"thebasicprincipleofthistheory.
（3）Tohaveopposedtothenegationofthenegation，whichclaimstobetheabsolutepositive，thepositivewhichisbaseduponitselfandpositivelygroundedinitself.
FeuerbachexplainstheHegeliandialectic，andinsodoingjustifiestakingthepositive，thatissensuouslyascertained，ashisstarting—point，inthefollowingway：
Hegelstartsoutfromtheestrangementofsubstance（inlogicalterms：fromtheinfinite，theabstractlyuniversal），fromtheabsoluteandfixedabstraction.Inordinarylanguage，hestartsoutfromreligionandtheology.
Secondly，hesupercedestheinfiniteandpositstheactual，thesensuous，thereal，thefinite，theparticular.（Philosophyassupersessionofreligionandtheology.）
Thirdly，heoncemoresupersedesthepositive，andrestorestheabstraction，theinfinite.Restorationofreligionandtheology.
Feuerbach，therefore，conceivesthenegationofthenegationonlyasacontradictionofphilosophywithitself，asphilosophywhichaffirmstheology（supersession，etc.）afterhavingsupersededitand，hence，affirmsitinoppositiontoitself.
Thepositingorself—affirmationandself—confirmationpresentinthenegationofthenegationisregardedasapositingwhichisnotyetsureofitself，whichisstillpreoccupiedwithitsopposite，whichdoubtsitselfandthereforestandsinneedofproof，whichdoesnotproveitselfthroughitsownexistence，whichisnotadmitted.Itis，therefore，directlycounterposedtothatpositingwhichissensuouslyascertainedandgroundedinitself.（Feuerbachseesnegationofthenegation，theconcreteconcept，asthoughtwhichsurpassesitselfinthoughtandasthoughtwhichstrivestobedirectawareness，nature，reality.）
But，sinceheconceivesthenegationofthenegationfromtheaspectofthepositiverelationcontainedwithinitasthetrueandonlypositiveandfromtheaspectofthenegativerelationcontainedwithinitastheonlytrueactandself—realizingactofallbeing，Hegelhasmerelydiscoveredtheabstract，logical，speculativeexpressionofthemovementofhistory.Thismovementofhistoryisnotyettherealhistoryofmanasagivensubject，itissimplytheprocessofhiscreation，thehistoryofhisemergence.WeshallexplainboththeabstractformofthismovementandthedifferencebetweenHegel’sconceptionofthisprocessandthatofmoderncriticismasformulatedinFeuerbach’sDasWesendesChristentums，or，rather，thecriticalformofamovementwhichinHegelisstilluncritical.
LetustakealookatHegel’ssystem.WemustbeginwithhisPhenomenology，whichisthetruebirthplaceandsecretoftheHegelianphilosophy.
[chapterandsectionheadings]
PhenomenologyA.Self—consciousness1.Consciousness.
（a）Certaintyinsenseexperience，orthe"this"andmeaning.
（b）Perceptionorthethingwithitspropertiesandillusion.
（c）Powerandunderstanding，phenomenaandthesuper—sensibleworld.
2.Self—consciousness.Thetruthofcertaintyofoneself.
（a）Independenceanddependenceofself—consciousness（b）Freedomofself—consciousness.Stoicism，scepticism，theunhappyconsciousness.
3.Reason.Certaintyandtruth.
（a）Observationalreason;observationofnatureandofself—consciousness.
（b）Realizationofrationalself—consciousnessthroughitself.Pleasureandnecessity.Thelawoftheheartandthemadnessofself—conceit.Virtueandthewayoftheworld.
（c）Individualitywhichisrealinandforitself.Thespiritualanimalkingdomanddeceptionorthethingitself.Legislativereason.Reasonwhichtestslaws.
B.Mind.
1.Truemind，morality.
2.Self—estrangedmind，culture.
3.Mindcertainofitself，morality.
C.Religion.
Naturalreligion，thereligionofart，revealedreligion.
D.Absoluteknowledge.Hegel’sEncyclopaediabeginswithlogic，withpurespeculativethought，andendswithabsoluteknowledge，withtheself—conscious，self—comprehendingphilosophicalorabsolutemind——i.e.，super—human，abstractmind.
Inthesameway，thewholeoftheEncyclopaediaisnothingbuttheextendedbeingorphilosophicalmind，itsself—objectification;andthephilosophicalmindisnothingbuttheestrangedmindoftheworldthinkingwithinitsself—estrangement——i.e.，conceivingitselfabstractly.
Logicisthecurrencyofthemind，thespeculativethought—valueofmanandofnature，theiressencewhichhasbecomecompletelyindifferenttoallrealdeterminatenessandhenceunreal，alienatedthought，andthereforethoughwhichabstractfromnatureandfromrealman;abstractthought.
Theexternalcharacterofthisabstractthoughtnatureasitisforthisabstractthought.Natureisexternaltoit，itslossofself;itgraspsnatureexternally，asabstractthought，butasalienatedabstractthought.
Finallymind，whichisthoughtreturningtoitsbirthplaceandwhichasanthropological，phenomenological，psychological，moral，artistic—religiousmind，isnotvalidforitselfuntilitfinallydiscoversandaffirmsitselfasabsoluteknowledgeandthereforeasabsolute，i.e.，abstractmind，receivesitsconsciousandappropriateexistence.Foritsrealexistenceisabstraction.
Hegelcommitsadoubleerror.
ThefirstappearsmostclearlyinthePhenomenology，whichisthebirthplaceofHegelianphilosophy.When，forexample，Hegelconceiveswealth，thepowerofthestate，etc.，asentitiesestrangedfromthebeingofman，heconceivesthemonlyintheirthoughtformTheyareentitiesofthought，andthereforesimplyanestrangementofpure——i.e.，abstract——philosophicalthought.Therefore，theentiremovementendswithabsoluteknowledge.Whattheseobjectsareestrangedfromandwhattheyconfrontwiththeirclaimtorealityisnoneotherthanabstractthought.
Thephilosopher——himselfanabstractformofestrangedman——setshimselfupastheyardstickoftheestrangedworld.Theentirehistoryofalienation，andtheentireretractionofthisalienation，is，therefore，nothingmorethanthehistoryhistoryoftheproductionofabstract（i.e.，absolute），though，oflogical，speculativethought.Estrangement，whichthusformstherealinterestofthisalienationanditssuper—session，istheoppositionofinitselfandforitself，ofconsciousnessandself—consciousness，ofobjectandsubject——i.e.，theoppositionwithinthoughtitselfofabstractthoughtandsensuousreality，orrealsensuousness.Allotheroppositionsandthemovementsoftheseoppositionsareonlytheappearance，themask，theexotericformofthesetwooppositeswhicharealoneimportantandwhichformthemeaningoftheseother，profaneoppositions.Itisnotthefactthatthehumanessenceobjectifiesitselfinaninhumanway，inoppositiontoitself，butthatitobjectifiesitselfindistinctionfromandinoppositiontoabstractthought，whichconstitutestheessenceofestrangementasitexistsandasitistobesuperseded.
Theappropriationofman’sobjectifiedandestrangedessentialpowersis，therefore，firstlyonlyanappropriationwhichtakesplaceinconsciousness，inpurethought——i.e.，inabstraction.InthePhenomenology，therefore，despiteitsthoroughlynegativeandcriticalappearance，anddespitethefactthatitscriticismisgenuineandoftenwellaheadofitstime，theuncriticalpositivism，andequallyuncriticalidealismofHegel’slaterworks，thephilosophicaldissolutionandrestorationoftheempiricalworld，isalreadytobefoundinitslatentform，inembryo，asapotentialityandasecret.Secondly，thevindicationoftheobjectiveworldforman——e.g.，therecognitionthatsensuousconsciousnessisnotabstractlysensuousconsciousness，buthumanlysensuousconsciousness;thatreligion，wealth，etc.，areonlytheestrangedrealityofhumanobjectification，ofhumanessentialpowersbornintowork，andthereforeonlythewaytotruehumanreality——thisappropriation，ortheinsightintothisprocess，thereforeappearsinHegelinsuchawaythatsenseperception，religion，thepowerofthestate，etc.，arespiritualentities，formindaloneisthetrueessenceofman，andthetrueformofmindisthethinkingmind，thelogical，speculativemind.Thehumanityofnatureandofnatureasproducedbyhistory，ofman’sproducts，isapparentfromthefactthattheyareproductsofabstractmindandthereforefactorsofthemind，entitiesofthought.ThePhenomenologyisthereforeconcealedandmystifyingcriticism，criticismwhichhasnotattainedself—clarity;
butinsofarasitgraspstheestrangementofman——eventhoughmanappearsonlyintheformofmind——alltheelementsofcriticismareconcealedwithinit，andoftenpreparedandworkedoutinawaythatgoesfarbeyondHegel’sownpointofview.The"unhappyconsciousness"，the"honestconsciousness"，thestruggleofthe"nobleandbaseconsciousness"，etc.，etc.，theseseparatesectionscontainthecriticalelements——butstillinestrangedform——
ofentirespheres，suchasreligion，thestate，civillifeandsofort.
Justastheentity，theobject，appearsasathought—entity，soalsothesubjectisalwaysconsciousnessofself—consciousness;orrather，theobjectappearsonlyasabstractconsciousnessandmenonlyasself—consciousness.
Thevariousformsofestrangementwhichoccurarethereforemerelydifferentformsofconsciousnessandself—consciousness.Sinceabstractconsciousness，whichishowtheobjectisconceived，isinitselfonlyonemomentinthedifferentiationofself—consciousness，theresultofthemovementistheidentityofself—consciousnessandconsciousness，absoluteknowledge，themovementofabstractthoughtnolongerdirectedoutwardsbutproceedingonlywithinitself;i.e.，theresultisthedialecticofpurethought.
TheimportanceofHegel’sPhenomenologyanditsfinalresult——thedialecticofnegativityasthemovingandproducingprinciple——
liesinthefactthatHegelconceivestheself—creationofmanasaprocess，objectificationaslossofobject[Entgegenstandlichung]，asalienationandassupersessionofthisalienation;thathethereforegraspsthenatureoflaborandconceivesobjectiveman——true，becauserealman——astheresultofhisownlabor.Thereal，activerelationofmantohimselfasaspecies—being，ortherealizationofhimselfasarealspecies—being——i.e.，asahumanbeing，isonlypossibleifhereallyemploysallthisspecies—powers——whichagainisonlypossiblethroughthecooperationofmankindandasaresultofhistory——andtreatsthemasobjects，whichisatfirstonlypossibleintheformofestrangement.
*Weshallnowdemonstrate，indetail，theone—sidednessandthelimitationsofHegel，asobservedintheclosingchapterofthePhenomenology.
Thischapter（"AbsoluteKnowledge"）containstheconcentratedessenceofthePhenomenology，itsrelationtothedialectic，andHegel’sconsciousnessofbothandtheirinterrelations.
Forthepresent，letusobservethatHegeladoptsthestandpointofmodernpoliticaleconomy.Heseeslaborastheessence，theself—confirmingessence，ofman;heseesonlythepositiveandnotthenegativesideoflabor.Laborisman’scomingtobeforhimselfwithinalienationorasanalienatedman.TheonlylaborHegelknowsandrecognizesisabstractmentallabor.Sothatwhichaboveallconstitutestheessenceofphilosophy——thealienationofmanwhoknowshimselforalienatedsciencethatthinksitself——Hegelgraspsasitsessence，andisthereforeabletobringtogethertheseparateelementsofpreviousphilosophiesandpresenthisownphilosophyasthephilosophy.Whatotherphilosophersdid——thattheyconceivedseparatemomentsofnatureandofman’slifeasmomentsofself—consciousness，indeed，ofabstractself—consciousness——thisHegelknowsbydoingphilosophy.
Therefore，hisscienceisabsolute.
Letusnowproceedtooursubject.
"AbsoluteKnowledge."ThelastchapterofthePhenomenology.
Themainpointisthattheobjectofconsciousnessisnothingelsebutself—consciousness，orthattheobjectisonlyobjectifiedself—
consciousness，self—consciousnessasobject.（Thepositingofman=self—consciousness.）
Itis，therefore，aquestionofsurmountingtheobjectofconsciousness.
Objectivityassuchisseenasanestrangedhumanrelationshipwhichdoesnotcorrespondtohumannature，toself—consciousness.Thereappropriationoftheobjectiveessenceofman，producedintheformofestrangementassomethingalien，thereforemeanstranscendingnotonlyestrangementbutalsoobjectivity.Thatistosay，manisregardedasanon—objective，spiritualbeing.
Hegeldescribestheprocessofsurmountingtheobjectofconsciousnessinthefollowingway：
Theobjectdoesnotonlyshowitselfasreturningintotheself，（accordingtoHegelthatisaone—sidedconceptionofthemovement，aconceptionwhichgraspsonlyoneside）.Manisequatedwithself.Buttheselfisonlyabstractlyconceivedman，manproducedbyabstraction.Manisself[selbstisch].Hiseyes，hisears，etc.，havethequalityofself;eachoneofhisessentialpowershasthisqualityofself.Butthereforeitisquitewrongtosaythatself—consciousnesshaseyes，ears，essentialpowers.Self—consciousnessisratheraqualityofhumannature，ofthehumaneye，etc.;humannatureisnotaqualityofself—consciousness.
Theselfabstractedandfixedforitselfismanasabstractegoist，egoismraisedtoitspureabstractioninthought.（Weshallcomebacktothislater.）
ForHegel，humannature，man，isequivalenttoself—consciousness.
Allestrangementofhumannatureisthereforenothingbutestrangementofself—consciousnessnotastheexpression，reflectedinknowledgeandinthought，oftherealestrangementofhumannature.Onthecontrary，actualestrangement，estrangementwhichappearsreal，isinitsinnermosthiddennature——whichphilosophyfirstbringstolight——nothingmorethantheappearanceoftheestrangementofrealhumannature，ofself—consciousness.
Thesciencewhichcomprehendsthisisthereforecalledphenomenology.Allreappropriationofestrangedobjectivebeing，therefore，appearsasanincorporationintoself—consciousness;themanwhotakesholdofhisbeingisonlytheself—consciousnesswhichtakesholdofobjectivebeing.Thereturnoftheobjectintotheselfisthereforethereappropriationoftheobject.
Expressedcomprehensively，thesurmountingoftheobjectofconsciousnessmeans[thefollowingeightpointstakenalmostverbatimfromPhenomenology，chapter"AbsoluteKnowledge"]：
（1）Thattheobjectassuchpresentsitselftoconsciousnessassomethingdisappearing.
（2）Thatitisthealienationofself—consciousnesswhichestablishesthingness[Dingheit].
（3）Thatthisalienationhasnotonlyanegativebutalsoapositivesignificance.（4）Thatthissignificanceisnotonlyforusorinitself，butforself—consciousnessitself.
（5）Forself—consciousnessthenegativeoftheobject，itsownsupersessionofitself，hasapositivesignificance——orself—consciousnessknowsthenullityoftheobject——inthatself—consciousnessalienatesitself，forinthisalienationitestablishesitselfasobjectofestablishestheobjectasitself，forthesakeoftheindivisibleunityofbeing—for—itself.
（6）Ontheotherhand，thisothermomentisalsopresentintheprocess，namely，thatself—consciousnesshassupersededandtakenbackintoitselfthisalienationandobjectivity，andisthereforeathomeinitsother—beingassuch.
（7）Thisisthemovementofconsciousness，andconsciousnessisthereforethetotalityofitsmoments.
（8）Similarly，consciousnessmusthaverelateditselftotheobjectintermsofthetotalityofitsdeterminations，andhavegraspeditintermsofeachofthem.Thistotalityofdeterminationsmaketheobjectintrinsically[ansich]aspiritualbeing，anditbecomesthatinrealityforconsciousnessthroughtheapprehendingofeachoneofthesedeterminationsasdeterminationsofselforthroughwhatweearliercalledthespiritualattitudetowardsthem.
Asto（1）
Thattheobjectassuchpresentsitselftoconsciousnessassomethingdisappearingistheabove—mentionedreturnoftheobjectintoself.
Asto（2）
Thealienationofself—consciousnessestablishesthingness.Becausemanisequivalenttoself—consciousness，hisalienatedobjectivebeingorthingness（thatwhichisanobjectforhim，andtheonlytrueobjectforhimisthatwhichisanessentialobject——i.e.，hisobjectiveessence;sinceitisnotrealman，andthereforenotnature，formanishumannature，whobecomesassuchthesubject，butonlytheabstractionofman，self—consciousness，thingnesscanonlybealienatedself—consciousness）
istheequivalentofalienatedself—consciousness，andthingnessisestablishedbythisalienation.Itisentirelytobeexpectedthataliving，naturalbeingequippedandendowedwithobjective——i.e.，material——essentialpowersshouldhaverealnaturalobjectsfortheobjectsofitsbeing，andthatitsself—alienationshouldtaketheformoftheestablishmentofareal，objectiveworld，butassomethingexternaltoit，aworldwhichdoesnotbelongtoitsbeingandwhichoverpowersit.Thereisnothingincomprehensibleormysteriousaboutthat.Itwouldonlybemysteriousifthecontraryweretrue.Butitisequallyclearthataself—consciousness，throughitsalienation，canonlyestablishthingness——i.e.，andabstractthing，athingofabstractionandnotarealthing.Itisalsoclearthatthingnessisthereforeinnowaysomethingindependentorsubstantialvis—a—visself—consciousness;
itisamerecreature，apostulateofself—consciousness.Andwhatispostulated，insteadofconfirmingitself，isonlyaconfirmationoftheactofpostulating;
anactwhich，forasinglemoment，concentratesitsenergyasproductandapparentlyconfersuponthatproduct——butonlyforamoment——theroleofanindependent，realbeing.
Whenreal，corporealman，hisfeetfirmlyplantedonthesolidearthandbreathingallthepowersofnature，establisheshisreal，objectiveessentialpowersasalienobjectsbyexternalization[Entausserung]，itisnottheestablishing[Setzen]whichissubject;itisthesubjectivityofobjectiveessentialpowerswhoseactionmustthereforebeanobjectiveone.Anobjectivebeingactsobjectively，anditwouldnotactobjectivelyisobjectivitywerenotaninherentpartofitsessentialnature.Itcreatesandestablishesonlyobjectsbecauseitisestablishedbyobjects，becauseitisfundamentallynature.Intheactofestablishing，it，therefore，doesnotdescendfromits"pureactivity"tothecreationofobjects;onthecontrary，itsobjectiveproductsimplyconfirmsitsobjectiveactivity，itsactivityastheactivityofanobjective，naturalbeing.
Hereweseehowtheconstantnaturalismorhumanismdiffersbothfromidealismandmaterialismandisatthesametimetheirunifyingtruth.
Wealsoseethatonlynaturalismiscapableofcomprehendingtheprocessofworldhistory.
Manisdirectlyanaturalbeing.Asanaturalbeing，andasalivingnaturalbeing，heisontheonehandequippedwithnaturalpowers，withvitalpowers，heisanactivenaturalbeing;thesepowersexistinhimasdispositionsandcapacities，asdrives.Ontheotherhand，asanatural，corporeal，sensuous，objectivebeing，heisasuffering，conditioned，andlimitedbeing，likeanimalsandplants.thatistosay，theobjectsofhisdrivesexistoutsidehimasobjectsindependentofhim;buttheseobjectsareobjectsofhisneed，essentialobjects，indispensabletotheexerciseandconfirmationofhisessentialpowers.Tosaythatmanisacorporeal，living，real，sensuous，objectivebeingwithnaturalpowersmeansthathehasreal，sensuousobjectsastheobjectofhisbeingandofhisvitalexpression，orthathecanonlyexpresshislifeinreal，sensuousobjects.Tobeobjective，natural，andsensuous，andtohaveobject，nature，andsenseoutsideoneself，ortobeoneselfobject，nature，andsenseforathirdpersonisoneandthesamething.Hungerisanaturalneed;itthereforerequiresanatureandanobjectoutsideitselfinordertosatisfyandstillitself.Hungeristheacknowledgedneedofmybodyforanobjectwhichexistsoutsideitselfandwhichisindispensabletoitsintegrationandtotheexpressionofitsessentialnature.TheSunisanobjectfortheplant，anindispensableobjectwithconfirmsitslife，justastheplantisanobjectfortheSun，asexpressionofitslife—awakeningpoweranditsobjectiveessentialpower.
Abeingwhichdoesnothaveitsnatureoutsideitselfisnotanaturalbeingandplaysnopartinthesystemofnature.Abeingwhichhasnoobjectoutsideit，itwouldexistinaconditionofsolitude.Forassoonasthereareobjectsoutsideme，assoonasIamnotalone，Iamanother，arealityotherthantheobjectoutsideme.ForthisthirdobjectIamthereforearealityotherthanit——i.e.，itsobject.Abeingwhichisnottheobjectofanotherbeingthereforepresupposesthatnoobjectivebeingexists.AssoonasIhaveanobject，thisobjecthasmeforitsobject.Butanon—objectivebeingisanunreal，non—sensuous，merelythought——i.e.，merelyconceived——being，abeingofabstraction.
Tobesensuous——i.e.，tobereal——istobeanobjectofsense，asensuousobject，andthustohavesensuousobjectsoutsideoneself，objectsofone’ssenseperception.Tobesensuousistosuffer（tobesubjectedtotheactionsofanother）.
Manasanobjectivesensuousbeingisthereforeasufferingbeing，andbecausehefeelshissuffering[Leiden]，heisapassionate[leidenschaftliches]
being.Passionisman’sessentialpowervigorouslystrivingtoattainitsobject.
Butmanisnotonlyanaturalbeing;heisahumannaturalbeing;i.e.，heisabeingforhimselfandhenceaspecies—being，aswhichhemustconfirmandrealizehimselfbothinhisbeingandinhisknowning.
Consequently，humanobjectsarenotnaturalobjectsastheyimmediatelypresentthemselves，norishumansense，initsimmediateandobjectiveexistence，humansensibilityandhumanobjectivity.Neitherobjectivenorsubjectivenatureisimmediatelypresentinaformadequatetothehumanbeing.Andaseverythingnaturalmustcomeintobeing，somanalsohashisprocessoforigininhistory.Butforhimhistoryisaconsciousprocess，andhenceonewhichconsciouslysupersededitself.Historyisthetruenaturalhistoryofman.（Weshallreturntothislater.）
Thirdly，sincethisestablishingofthingnessisitselfonlyanappearance，nactwhichcontradictsthenatureofpureactivity，itmustbesupersededonceagainandthingnessmustbedenied.
Asto3，4，5，6.
（3）Thisalienationofconsciousnesshasnotonlyanegativebutalsoapositivesignificance，and（4）ithasthispositivesignificancenotonlyforusorinitself，butforconsciousnessitself.
（5）Forself—consciousness，thenegativeoftheobjectoritsownsupersessionofitselfhasapositivesignificance——orself—consciousnessknowsthenullityoftheobject——inthatself—consciousnessalienatesitself，forinthisalienationitknowsitselfasobjector，forthesakeoftheindividisibleunityofbeing—for—itself，theobjectasitself.
（6）Ontheotherhand，theothermomentisalsopresentintheprocess，namely，thatself—consciousnesshassupersededandtakenbackintoitselfthisalienationandobjectivity，andisthereforeathomeinitsother—beingassuch.
Torecapitulate.Theappropriationofestrangedobjectivebeingorthesupersessionofobjectivityintheformofestrangement——whichmustproceedfromindifferentothernesstoreal，hostileestrangement——
principallymeansforHegelthesupersessionofobjectivity，sinceitisnottheparticularcharacteroftheobjectbutitsobjectivecharacterwhichconstitutestheoffenseandtheestrangementasfarasself—consciousnessisconcerned.Theobjectisthereforenegative，self—superseding，anullity.
Thisnullityoftheobjecthasnotonlyanegativebutalsoapositivesignificanceforconsciousness，foritispreciselytheself—confirmationofitsnon—objectivityandabstraction.Forconsciousnessitself，thenullityoftheobjectthereforehasapositivesignificancebecauseitknowsthisnullity，theobjectivebeing，asitsself—alienation，becauseitknowsthatthisnullityexistsonlyasaresultofitsownself—alienation
Thewayinwhichconsciousnessis，andinwhichsomethingisforit，isknowing.Knowingisitsonlyact.Hence，somethingcomestoexistforconsciousnessinsofarasitknowsthatsomething.Knowingisitsonlyobjectiverelationship.Itknowsthenullityoftheobject——i.e.，thattheobjectisnotdirectfromit，thenon—existenceoftheobjectforit，inthatitknowstheobjectasitsownself—alienation;thatis，itknowsitself——i.e.，itknowsknowing，consideredasanobject——inthattheobjectisonlytheappearanceofanobject，anillusion，whichinessenceisnothingmorethanknowingitselfwhichhasconfronteditselfwithitselfandhenceanullity，asomethingwhichhasnoobjectivityoutsideknowing.Knowingknowsthatwhenitrelatesitselftoanobjectitisonlyoutsideitself，alienatesitself;thatitonlyappearstoitselfasanobject，orrather，thatwhatappearstoitasanobjectisonlyitself.
Ontheotherhand，says，Hegel，thisothermomentisalsopresentintheprocess，namely，thatself—consciousnesshassupersededandtakenbackintoitselfthisalienationandobjectivity，andisthereforeathomeinitsother—beingassuch.
Thisdiscussionisacompendiumofalltheillusionsofspeculation.
Firstly，consciousness——self—consciousness——isathomeinitsother—beingassuch.Itistherefore，ifwehereabstractfromHegel’sabstractionandtalkinsteadofself—consciousness，oftheself—consciousnessofman，athomeinitsother—beingassuch.Thisimplies，foronething，thatconsciousness——knowingasknowing，thinkingasthinking——claimstobethedirectoppositeofitself，claimstobethesensuousworld，reality，life——thoughtover—reachingitselfinthought（Feuerbach）.Thisaspectispresentinsofarasconsciousnessasmereconsciousnessisoffendednotbyestrangedobjectivitybutbyobjectivityassuch.
Secondly，itimpliesthatself—consciousman，insofarashehasacknowledgedandsupersededthespiritualworld，orthegeneralspiritualexistenceofhisworld，asself—alienation，goesontoreaffirmitinthisalienatedformandpresentsitashistrueexistence，restoresitandclaimstobeathomeinhisother—beingassuch.Thus，forexample，havingsupersededreligionandrecognizeditasaproductofself—alienation，hestillfindshimselfconfirmedinreligionasreligion.HereistherootofHegel’sfalsepositivismorofhismerelyapparentcriticism;itiswhatFeuerbachcallsthepositing，negating，andre—establishingofreligionortheology，butitneedstobeconceivedinamoregeneralway.Soreasonisathomeinunreasonasunreason.Man，whohasrealizedthatinlaw，politics，etc.，heleadsanalienatedlifeassuch.Self—affirmation，self—confirmationincontradictionwithitselfandwiththeknowledgeandthenatureoftheobjectisthereforetrueknowledgeandtruelife.
ThereforetherecannolongerbeanyquestionabutacompromiseonHegel’spartwithreligion，thestate，etc.，sincethisuntruthistheuntruthofhisprinciple.
IfIknowreligionasalienatedhumanself—consciousness，thenwhatIknowinitasreligionisnotmyself—consciousnessbutmyalienatedself—consciousnessconfirmedinit.ThusIknowthattheself—consciousnesswhichbelongstotheessenceofmyownselfisconfirmednotinreligionbutinthedestructionandsupersessionofreligion.
InHegel，therefore，thenegationofthenegationisnottheconfirmationoftruebeingthroughthenegationofapparentbeing.Itistheconfirmationofapparentbeingorself—estrangedbeinginitsnegation，orthenegationofthisapparentbeingasanobjectivebeingresidingoutsidemanandindependentofhimanditstransformationintothesubject.
Theactofsupersedingthereforeplaysaspecialroleinwhichnegationandpreservation（affirmation）arebroughttogether.
Thus，forexample，inHegel’sPhilosophyofRight，privaterightsupersededequalsmorality，moralitysupersededequalsfamily，familysupersededequalscivilsociety，civilsocietysupersededequalsstate，andstatesupersededequalsworldhistory.Inreality，privateright，morality，family，civilsociety，state，etc.，continuetoexist，buthavebecomemomentsandmodesofhumanexistencewhicharemeaninglessinisolationbutwhichmutuallydissolveandengenderoneanother.Theyaremomentsofmovement.
Intheirrealexistencethischaracterofmobilityishidden.
Itfirstappears，isfirstrevealed，inthoughtandinphilosophy.Hence，mytruereligiousexistenceismyexistenceinthephilosophyofreligion，mytruepoliticalexistenceismyexistenceinthephilosophyofright，mytruenaturalexistenceismyexistenceinthephilosophyofnature，mytrueartisticexistenceismyexistenceinthephilosophyofartandmytruehumanexistenceismyexistenceinphilosophy.Similarly，thetrueexistenceofreligion，state，nature，andartisthephilosophyofreligion，nature，thestateandart.Butifthephilosophyofreligions，etc.，isformethetrueexistenceofreligion，thenIamtrulyreligiousonlyasaphilosopherofreligion，andIthereforedenyrealreligiosityandthereallyreligiousman.ButatthesametimeIconfirmthem，partlyinmyownexistenceorinthealienexistencewhichIopposetothem——forthisismerelytheirphilosophicalexpression——andpartlyintheirparticularandoriginalform，forIregardthemasmerelyapparentother—being，asallegories，formsoftheirowntrueexistenceconcealedundersensuousmantles——i.e.formsofmyphilosophicalexistence.
Similarly，qualitysupersededequalsquantity，quantitysupersededequalsmeasure，measuresupersededequalsessence，essencesupersededequalsappearance，appearancesupersededequalsreality，realitysupersededequalstheconcept，theconceptsupersededequalsobjectivity，objectivitysuperseded，equalstheabsoluteidea，theabsoluteideasupersededequalsnature，naturesupersededequalssubjectivespirit，subjectivespiritsupersededequalsethicalobjectivespirit.ethicalspiritsupersededequalsart，artsupersededequalsreligion，religionsupersededequalsabsoluteknowledge.
Ontheonehand，thisactofsupersedingistheactofsupersedinganentityofthought;thus，privatepropertyasthoughtissupersededinthethoughtofmorality.Andbecausethoughtimaginesitselftobethedirectoppositeofitself——i.e.，sensuousreality——andthereforeregardsitsownactivityassensuous，realactivity，thissupersessioninthought，whichleavesitsobjectinexistenceinreality，thinksithasactuallyovercomeit.Ontheotherhand，sincetheobjecthasnowbecomeamomentofthoughtforthethoughtwhichisdoingthesuperseding，itisregardedinitsrealexistenceasacontinuationofthought，soself—consciousness，ofabstraction.
FromoneaspecttheexistencewhichHegelsupersededinphilosophyisthereforenotrealreligion，state，nature，butreligionalreadyintheformofanobjectofknowledge——i.e.，dogmatics;hencealsojurisprudence，politicalscience，andnaturalscience.Fromthisaspect，hethereforestandsinoppositionbothtotheactualbeingandtotheimmediatenon—philosophicalscienceornon—philosophicalconceptsofbeing.Hethereforecontradictstheircurrentconceptions.
Fromtheotheraspectthemanwhoisreligious，etc.，canfindhisfinalconfirmationinHegel.
WeshouldnowexaminethepositivemomentsoftheHegeliandialectic，withinthedetermininglimitsofestrangement.
（a）Theactofsupersedingasanobjectivemovementwhichre—absorbsalienationintoitself.Thisistheinsight，expressedwithinestrangement，intotheappropriationofobjectivebeingthroughthesupersessionofitsalienation;itistheestrangedinsightintotherealobjectificationofman，intotherealappropriationofhisobjectivebeingthroughthedestructionoftheestrangedcharacteroftheobjectiveworld，throughthesupersessionofitsestrangedmodeofexistence，justasatheismasthesupersessionofGodistheemergenceoftheoreticalhumanism，andcommunismasthesupersessionofprivatepropertythevindicationofrealhumanlifeasman’sproperty，theemergenceofpracticalhumanism.Atheismishumanismmediatedwithitselfthroughthesupersessionofreligion;communismishumanismmediatedwithitselfthroughthesupersessionofprivateproperty.
Onlywhenwehavesupersededthismediation——whichis，however，anecessaryprecondition——willpositivehumanism，positivelyoriginatinginitself，comeintobeing.
Butatheismandcommunismarenoflight，noabstraction，nolossoftheobjectiveworldcreatedbymanorofhisessentialpowersprojectedintoobjectivity.Noimpoverishedregressiontounnatural，primitivesimplicity.
Theyareratherthefirstrealemergence，therealizationbecomerealforman，ofhisessenceassomethingreal.
Therefore，ingraspingthepositivesignificanceofthenegationwhichhasreferencetoitself，evenifonceagaininestrangedform，Hegelgraspsman’sself—estrangementalienationofbeing，lossofobjectivity，andlossofrealityasself—discovery，expressionofbeing，objectificationandrealization.Inshort，heseeslabor——withinabstraction——asman’sactofself—creationandman’srelationtohimselfasanalienbeingandthemanifestationofhimselfasanalienbeingastheemergenceofspecies—consciousnessandspecies—life.
（b）ButinHegel，apartfromorratherasaconsequenceoftheinversionwehavealreadydescribed，thisactappears，firstly，tobemerelyformalbecauseitisabstractandbecausehumannatureitselfisseenonlyasabstractthinkingbeing，asself—consciousness.
Andsecondly，becausetheconceptionisformalandabstract，thesupersessionofalienationbecomesaconfirmationofalienation.Inotherwords，Hegelseesthismovementofself—creationandself—objectificationintheformofself—alienationandself—estrangementastheabsoluteandhencethefinalexpressionofhumanlifewhichhasitselfasitsaim，isatrestinitselfandhasattaineditsownessentialnature.
Thismovementinitsabstractformasdialecticisthereforeregardedastrulyhumanlife.Andsinceitisstillanabstraction，anestrangementofhumanlife，itisregardedasadivineprocess，butasthedivineprocessofman.Itisman’sabstract，pure，absolutebeing（asdistinctfromhimself），whichitselfpassesthroughthisprocess.
Thirdly，thisprocessmusthaveabearer，asubject;butthesubjectcomesintobeingonlyastheresult;thisresult，thesubjectknowingitselfasabsoluteself—consciousness，isthereforeGod，absolutespirit，theself—knowingandself—manifestingidea.Realmanandrealnaturebecomemerepredicates，symbolsofthishidden，unrealmanandthisunrealnature.
Subjectandpredicatethereforestandinarelationofabsoluteinversiontooneanother;amysticalsubject—objectorsubjectivityencroachingupontheobject，theabsolutesubjectasaprocess，asasubjectwhichalienatesitselfandreturnstoitselffromalienation，whileatthesametimere—absorbingthisalienation，andthesubjectasthisprocess;pure，ceaselessrevolvingwithinitself.
First，theformalandabstractconceptionofman’sactofself—creationofself—objectification.
BecauseHegelequatesmanwithself—consciousness，theestrangedobject，theestrangedessentialrealityofmanisnothingbutconsciousness，nothingbutthethoughtofestrangement，itsabstractandhencehollowandunrealexpression，negation.Thesupersessionofalienationisthereforelikewisenothingbutanabstract，hollowsupersessionofthathollowabstraction，thenegationofthenegation.Theinexhaustible，vital，sensuous，concreteactivityofself—objectificationisthereforereducedtoitsmereabstraction，absolutenegativity，anabstractionwhichisthengivenpermanentformassuchandconceivedasindependentactivity，asactivityitself.Sincethisso—callednegativityisnothingmorethantheabstract，emptyformofthatreallivingact，itscontentcanonlybeaformalcontent，createdbyabstractionfromallcontent.Consequentlytherearegeneral，abstractformsofabstractionwhichfiteverycontentandarethereforeindifferenttoallcontent：formsofthoughtandlogicalcategoriestornawayfromrealmindandrealnature.（Weshallexpoundthelogicalcontentofabsolutenegativitylater.）
Hegel’spositiveachievementinhisspeculativelogicistopresentdeterminateconcepts，theuniversalfixedthought—formsintheirindependenceofnatureandmind，asanecessaryresultoftheuniversalestrangementofhumanexistence，andthusalsoofhumanthought，andtocomprehendthemasmomentsintheprocessofabstraction.Forexample，beingsupersededisessence，essencesupersededistheconcept，theconceptsupersededis
theabsoluteidea.Butwhatistheabsoluteidea？Itiscompelledtosupersedeitsownselfagain，ifitdoesnotwishtogothroughthewholeactofabstractiononcemorefromthebeginningandtoreconcileitselftobeingatotalityofabstractionwhichcomprehendsitselfasabstractionknowsitselftobenothing;itmustrelinquishitself，theabstraction，andsoarrivesatsomethingwhichisitsexactopposite，nature.HencethewholeoftheLogicisproofofthefactthatabstractthoughtisnothingforitself，thattheabsoluteideaisnothingforitself，andthatonlynatureissomething.
Theabsoluteidea，theabstractideawhich"consideredfromtheaspectofitsunitywithitselfinintuition[Anschauen]"，andwhich"initsownabsolutetruthresolvestoletthemomentofitsparticularityorofinitialdeterminationandother—being，theimmediate—idea，asitsreflection，issuefreelyfromitselfasnature"，thiswholeidea，whichconductsitselfinsuchastrangeandbaroquefashion，andwhichhascausedtheHegelianssuchterribleheadaches，ispurelyandsimplyabstraction——i.e.，theabstractthinker;abstractionwhich，taughtbyexperienceandenlightenedastoitsowntruth，resolvesundervariousconditions——themselvesfalseandstillabstract——torelinquishitselfandtoestablishitsother—being，theparticular，thedeterminate，inplaceofitsself—pervasion[Beisichsein]，non—being，universality，andindeterminateness;toletnature，whichisconcealedwithinitselfasamereabstraction，asathingofthings，issuefreelyfromitself——i.e.，toabandonabstractionsandtotakealookatnature，whichexistsfreefromabstraction.Theabstractidea，whichdirectlybecomesintuition，isquitesimplynothingmorethanabstractthoughtwhichrelinquishesitselfanddecidestoengageinintuiting.
Thisentiretransitionfromlogictophilosophyofnatureisnothingmorethanthetransition——sodifficultfortheabstractthinkertoeffect，andhencedescribedbyhiminsichabizarremanner——fromabstractingtointuiting.Themysticalfeelingwhichdrivesthephilosopherfromabstractthinkingtointuitionisboredom，thelongingforacontent.
Themanestrangedfromhimselfisalsothethinkerestrangedfromhisessence——i.e.，fromhisnaturalandhumanessence.Histhoughtsarethereforefixedphantomsexistingoutsidenatureandman.InhisLogic，Hegelhaslockedupallthesephantoms，conceivingeachofthemfirstlyasnegative——i.e.，asalienationofhumanthought——andsecondlyasnegationofthenegation——i.e.，assupersessionofthisalienation，asarealexpressionofhumanthought.Butsincethisnegationofthenegationisitselfstilltrappedinestrangement，whatthisamountstoisinpartafailuretomovebeyondthefinalstage，thestageofself—referenceinalienation，whichisthetrueexistenceofthesephantoms.
[Marxnote：Thatis，Hegelsubstitutestheactofabstractionrevolvingwithinitselfforthesefixedabstractions;insodoinghehasthemerit，firstofall，ofhavingrevealedthesourceofalltheseinappropriateconceptswhichoriginallybelongedtoseparatephilosophers，ofhavingcombinedthemandofhavingcreatedastheobjectofcriticismtheexhaustiverangeofabstractionratherthanoneparticularabstraction.WeshalllaterseewhyHegelseparatesthoughtfromthesubject;butitisalreadyclearthatifmanisnothuman，thentheexpressionofhisessentialnaturecannotbehuman，andthereforethatthoughtitselfcouldnotbeconceivedasanexpressionofman’sbeing，ofmanasahumanandnaturalsubject，witheyes，ears，etc.，livinginsociety，intheworld，andinnature.]
Insofarasthisabstractionapprehendsitselfandexperiencesaninfiniteboredomwithitself，wefindinHegelanabandonmentofabstractthoughtwhichmovessolelywithinthought，whichhasnoeyes，teeth，ears，anything，andaresolvetorecognizenatureasbeingandtogoovertointuition.
Butnature，too，takenabstractly，foritself，andfixedinitsseparationfromman，isnothingforman.Itgoeswithoutsayingthattheabstractthinkerwhodecidesonintuition，intuitsnatureabstractly.Justasnaturelayenclosedinthethinkerinashapewhicheventohimwasshroudedandmysterious，asanabsoluteidea，athingofthought，sowhatheallowedtocomeforthfromhimselfwassimplythisabstractnature，natureasathingofthought——butwiththesignificancenowofbeingtheother—beingofthought，real，intuitednatureasdistinctfromabstractthought.Or，toputitinhumanterms，theabstractthinkerdiscoversfromintuitingnaturethattheentitieswhichheimaginedhewascreatingoutofnothing，outofpureabstraction，inadivinedialectic，asthepureproductsofthelaborofthoughtlivingandmovingwithinitselfandneverlookingoutintoreality，arenothingmorethanabstractionsfromnaturalforms.Thewholeofnatureonlyrepeatstohiminasensuous，externalformtheabstractionsoflogic.Heanalyzesnatureandtheseabstractionsagain.Hisintuitingofnatureisthereforeonlytheactofconfirmationofhisabstractionfromtheintuitionofnature，aconsciousre—enactmentoftheprocessbywhichheproducedhisabstraction.Thus，forexample，TimeisequatedwithNegativityreferredtoitself.Inthenaturalform，supersededMovementasMattercorrespondstosupersededBecomingasBeing.
LightisthenaturalformofReflection—in—itself.BodyasMoonandCometisthenaturalformoftheantithesiswhich，accordingtotheLogic，isthepositivegroundeduponitselfandthenegativegroundeduponitself.
TheEarthisthenaturalformofthelogicalground，asthenegativeunityoftheantithesis，etc.
Natureasnature——i.e.，insofarasitissensuouslydistinctfromthesecretsensehiddenwithinit——natureseparatedanddistinctfromtheseabstractionsisnothing，anothingprovingitselftobenothing，itisdevoidofsense，oronlyhasthesenseofanexternalitytobesuperseded.
"Inthefinite—teleologicalviewistobefoundthecorrectpremisethatnaturedoesnotcontaintheabsoluteendwithinitself."Itsendistheconfirmationofabstraction.
"Naturehasrevealeditselfastheideaintheformofother—being.
Sincetheideainthisformisthenegativeofitself，orexternaltoitself，natureisnotonlyexternalrelativetothisidea，butexternalityconstitutestheforminwhichitexistsasnature."
[Hegelp.225]
"Forus，mindhasnatureasitspremise，sinceitisnature’struthand，therefore，itsabsoluteprimus.Inthistruth，naturehasdisappeared，andmindhasyieldedastheideawhichhasattainedbeing—for—itself，whoseobjectaswellassubjectistheconcept.
Thisidentityisabsolutenegativity，for，whereasinnaturetheconcepthasitsperfectexternalobjectivity，inthisitsalienationhasbeensupersededandtheconcepthasbecomeidenticalwithitself.Itisthisidentityonlyinthatitisareturnfromnature."
"Revelation，astheabstractidea，isunmediatedtransitionto，thecoming—to—be，nature;astherevelationofthemindwhichisfreeitistheestablishingofnatureasitsownworld;anestablishingwhich，asreflection，isatthesametimeapresupposingoftheworldasindependentlyexistingnature.Revelationinitsconceptisthecreationofnatureasthemind’sbeing，inwhichitprocurestheaffirmationandtruthofitsfreedom."
"Theabsoluteismind;thisisthehighestdefinitionoftheabsolute."
[p.392，393]