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 is the
process of superseding itself； or the same pure negativity which constitutes ego。 Ego is in it； qua
distinguished； reflected into itself； only then is the content comprehended （begriffen） when ego in
its otherness is still at home with itself。 More precisely stated； this content is nothing else than the
very process just spoken of； for the content is the spirit which traverses the whole range of its own
being； and does this for itself qua spirit； by the fact that it possesses the shape of the notion in its
objectivity。
As to the actual existence of this notion； science does not appear in time and in reality till spirit has
arrived at this stage of being conscious regarding itself。 Qua spirit which knows what it is； it does
not； exist before； and is not to be found at all till after the completion of the task of mastering and
constraining its imperfect embodiment — the task of procuring for its consciousness the shape of
its inmost essence； and in this manner bringing its self…consciousness level with its consciousness。
Spirit in and for itself is； when distinguished into its separate moments； self…existent knowledge；
comprehension （Begreifen） in general； which as such has not yet reached the substance； or is
not in itself absolute knowledge。
Now in actual reality the knowing substance exists； is there earlier than its form； earlier than the
shape of the notion。 For the substance is the undeveloped inherent nature； the ground and notion in
its inert simplicity； the state of inwardness or the self of spirit which is not yet there。 What is there；
what does exist； is in the shape of still unexpressed simplicity； the undeveloped immediate； or the
object of imagining （Vorstellen） consciousness in general。 Because knowledge （Erkennen） is a
spiritual state of consciousness； which admits as real what essentially is only so far as this is a being
for the self and a being of the self or a notion — knowledge has on this account merely a barren
object to begin with； in contrast to which the substance and the consciousness of this substance
are richer in content。 The revelation which substance has in such a consciousness is； in fact；
concealment； for the substance is here still self…less existence and nothing but certainty of self is
revealed。 To begin with； therefore； it is only the abstract moments that belong to
self…consciousness concerning the substance。 But since these moments are pure activities and must
move forward by their very nature； self…consciousness enriches itself till it has torn from
consciousness the entire substance； and absorbed into itself the entire structure of the substance
with all its constituent elements。 Since this negative attitude towards objectivity is positive as well；
establishes and fixes the content； it goes on till it has produced these elements out of itself and
thereby reinstated them once more as objects of consciousness。 In the notion； knowing itself as
notion； the moments thus make their appearance prior to the whole in its complete fulfilment； the
movement of these moments is the process by which the whole comes into being。 In
consciousness； on the other hand； the whole — but not as comprehended conceptually — is prior
to the moments。
Time is just the notion definitely existent； and presented to consciousness in the form of empty
intuition。 Hence spirit necessarily appears in time； and it appears in time so long as it does not
grasp its pure notion； i。e。 so long as it does not annul time。 Time is the pure self in external form；
apprehended in intuition； and not grasped and understood by the self； it is the notion apprehended
only through intuition。 When this notion grasps itself； it supersedes its time character；
（conceptually） comprehends intuition； and is intuition comprehended and comprehending。 Time
therefore appears as spirit's destiny and necessity； where spirit is not yet complete within itself； it is
the necessity compelling spirit to enrich the share self…consciousness has in consciousness； to put
into motion the immediacy of the inherent nature （which is the form in which the substance is
present in consciousness）； or； conversely； to realize and make manifest what is inherent； regarded
as inward and immanent； to make manifest that which is at first within — i。e。 to vindicate it for
spirit's certainty of self。
3。 The return of the Spirit so comprehended to Immediate Existence
For this reason it must be said that nothing is known which does not fall within experience； or （as it
is also expressed） which is not felt to be true； which is not given as an inwardly revealed eternal
verity； as a sacred object of belief； or whatever other expressions we care to employ。 For
experience just consists in this； that the content…and the content is spirit — in its inherent nature is
substance and so object of consciousness。 But this substance； which is spirit； is the development
of itself explicitly to what it is inherently and implicitly； and only as this process of ref