The Philosophy of Fine Art, volume 2 (of 4): Hegel's Aesthetik — Georg Hegel — John Shaqi
The Philosophy of Fine Art, volume 2 (of 4): Hegel's Aesthetik
Georg Hegel · en
With this degradation of the powers which are purely natural and of the
animal aspect no less than of the abstract universality of spiritual
relations, and with the re-acceptance of the same within the spiritual
individuality, permeated and Suffused as it is with Nature, we leave
behind us the origins of classical art which are stamped with necessity
and are presupposed by its essence, inasmuch as it is on this path
that the Ideal evolves itself by its own agency with that which it is
according to its notion. This reality of the spiritual gods adequate to
its notion carries us on to the genuine Ideals of the classical type of
art, which, in contrast to the old _régime_ which has been vanquished,
represent immortality[179], for mortality generally resides in the
incompatibility of the notion to its determinate existence.
[Footnote 139: _Als eine Unwürdigkeit_. As something unworthy of the
full notion of its gods.]
[Footnote 140: That is, the relegation of it to a position of
inferiority.]
[Footnote 141: This is the German word. By genius I presume Hegel means
"the familiar spirit" of a particular animal. Apparently this rather
than "kind." "Iliad," II, 308; XII, 208.]
[Footnote 142: "Odyss." XIV, 414; XXIV, 215.]
[Footnote 143: "Metam." I, vv. 150-243.]
[Footnote 144: "Metam." VI, vv. 440-676.]
[Footnote 145: "Metam." I, vv. 451-567.]
[Footnote 146: _Ibid._, IX, vv. 454-64.]
[Footnote 147: _Ibid.,_ V, v. 302.]
[Footnote 148: _Ibid._, vv. 319-31.]
[Footnote 149: "Herod." II, 46.]
[Footnote 150: Creuzer, "Symb." I, 477.]
[Footnote 151: That is, the sphere of fauns as a part of Nature.]
[Footnote 152: _Praktisch._ The contrast is between the philosophic
contemplation and the world regarded as the sphere of human activity.]
[Footnote 153: By _Umkehr_ Hegel probably means a "return" in the
direction of the art of the Sublime.]
[Footnote 154: _Einen bestimmten Kreis._ The meaning seems to be that
the circle of examples is here a clearly defined and limited one as
contrasted with the vagueness of Oriental Pantheism.]
[Footnote 155: "Herod." II, 52.]
[Footnote 156: _War ein entscheidendes Moment._ That is, was part of
the oracular reply.]
[Footnote 157: Both wording and punctuation of this sentence are at
fault, but I give the sense no doubt intended.]
[Footnote 158: I am not sure what is referred to here by _Telchinen_
and _Pätaken._]
[Footnote 159: _Das Ganze_, means here, I think, the whole of Creation.]
[Footnote 160: That is, took no further active interest in human life.]
[Footnote 161: Politicus ex rec. Bekk. II, 2, p. 283; Steph. 274.]
[Footnote 162: "Protag." I, 1, pp. 170-4; Steph. 320-3.]
[Footnote 163: I have just above translated _Sitte_ with the word
"custom," that is, ethical custom. But the contrast here is, I
think, between morality generally (_sittlich_) and juridical right
(_Rechtliche_).]