inner distinction； or immanent distinction； when the like is unlike itself； and the unlike like itself。
（c） The Law of Pure Distinction： the Inverted World
This second supersensible world is in this way the inverted world （verkehrte Welt）； and；
moreover； since one aspect is already present in the first supersensible world； the inverted form of
this first。 The inner being is； thereby； in its character of appearance completed。 For the first
supersensible world was only the immediate raising of the world of perception into the element of
universality。 It has its necessary counterpart in this world of perception； which still retains as its
own the principle of change and alteration。 The first kingdom of laws dispenses with this principle；
but receives it in the form of an inverted world。
By the law of this inverted world； then； the selfsame in the first world is the unlike of itself； and the
unlike in the first is equally unlike to itself； or it becomes like itself。 Expressed in determinate
moments； this will assume the form that what by the law of the first is sweet； is； in this inner；
inverted reality； sour； what is there black is here white。 What； by the law of the first； was north
pole in the case of the magnet； is； in its other supersensible inner world （viz。 in the earth）； south
pole； 〃while what was there south pole is here north pole。 Similarly； what by the first law is in the
case of electricity the oxygen pole becomes in its other supersensible reality hydrogen pole； and
conversely； what is there the pole of hydrogen becomes here the pole of oxygen。 To take another
sphere of experience： revenge on an enemy is； according to the primitive immediate law； the
supreme satisfaction of injured individuality。 This law； however — that of standing up against one
who does not treat me as a substantial self； showing him that I am a substantial being； and even
doing away with him as a reality — this law is transmuted by the principle of the other world into
the very opposite； the reinstatement of myself as the true reality through the removal of the alien
hostile being is turned into self…destruction。 If now this inversion； which is brought out in the
punishment of crime； is made into a law； it also is again only the law of a world which has an
inverted supersensuous world standing in antithesis to itself； where that which is despised in the
former comes to honour； and that which in the former is honoured meets with contempt。 The
punishment which； by the law of the former； disgraces a man and annihilates him； turns round in its
inverted world into the pardoning grace which preserves his being and brings him to honour。
Looked at on the surface； this inverted world is the antithesis of the first in the sense that it has the
latter outside itself； and repels that world from itself as an inverted reality； that the one is the sphere
of appearance； while the other is the inherent being； that the one is the world as it is for an other；
the other again the world as it is for itself。 In this way； to use the previous examples； what tastes
sweet is properly； or inwardly in the thing； sour； or what is north pole in the case of the actual
magnet belonging to the sphere of appearance； would be； in the inner or essential being； south
pole。 What is shown to be oxygen pole in electricity as a phenomenon； would be hydrogen pole in
the case of electricity not failing within the sphere of appearance。 Or again； an act which in
appearance is a crime would in its inner nature be capable of being really good — a bad act may
have a good intention； punishment is only in appearance punishment； in itself or in another world it
might well be； for the criminal； a benefit。 But such oppositions of inner and outer； appearance and
supersensible； in the sense of two sorts of reality； are no longer to be found here。 The differences
repelled are not divided anew and assigned to two substances such as would support them and
lend them a separate subsistence； the result of which would be that understanding would leave the
inner region； and fall back again on its previous position。 The one aspect or substance would be
once more the world of perception； where the one of those two laws would carry on its existence；
and in opposition to it an inner world； just such a sensible world as the first； but in the sphere of
ideas； one that could not be indicated； seen； heard； and tasted as a sensible world； and yet would
be thought of as such a sensible world。 But in point of fact； if the one element set up is a perceived
reality； and its inherent being； as its inverted form； is at the same time a sensuously represented
element； then sour； which would be the inherent nature of the sweet thing； is a real thing just as
much as the latter； viz。； a sour thing； black； which would be the inherent nature of white； is the
actual black； the north pole； which is the true reality of the south pole； is the north pole present in
the same magnet； the oxygen pole； the inherent nature of the pole of hydrogen； is the given oxygen
pole of the same voltaic pile。 The actual crime； however。 finds its inversion and its inherent nature
qua possibility； in the intention as such； but not in a good intention； for the truth of intention is
simply the deed itself。 The crime； so far as its content goes； recoils upon itself； finds its inversion in
actual punishment； this is the reconciliation of the law with the reality set up against it in crime。
Finally； the actual punishment carries its inverted reality with it in such a way that it is a kind of
realization of the law； whereby the activity； which the law exercises in the form of punishment； is
cancelled in the process； a manner of realization through which the law； from being actively
operative； becomes again quiescent and authoritative； and the conflict of individuality with it； and
of it with individuality； is extinguished。
From the idea； then； of inversion which constitutes the essential nature of one aspect of the
supersensible world； we must dissociate the sensuous idea of keeping distinctions substantively
fixed in a different element that sustains them； and this absolute notion of distinction must be set
forth and apprehended purely as inner distinction； self…repulsion of the selfsame as selfsame； and
likeness of the unlike as unlike。 We have to think pure flux； opposition within opposition itself； or
Contradiction。 For in the distinction； which is an internal distinction； the opposite is not only one of
two factors — if so； it would not be an opposite； but a bare existent — it is the opposite of an
opposite； or the other is itself directly and immediately present within it。
No doubt I put the opposite here and the other； of which it is the opposite； there； that is； I place
the opposite on one side； taking it by itself without the other。 Just on that account； however； since
I have here the opposite all by itself； it is the opposite of its own self； that is； it has in point of fact
the other immediately within itself。 Thus the supersensible world； which is the inverted world； has
at the same time reached out beyond the other world and has in itself that other； it is to itself
conscious of being inverted （für sich verkehrte；）； i。e。 it is the inverted form of itself； it is that
world itself and its opposite in a single unity。 Only thus is it distinction as internal distinction； or
distinction per se； in other words； only thus is it in the form of Infinity。
By means of infinity we see law attaining the form of inherent necessity； and so realizing its
complete nature； and all moments of the sphere of appearance are thereby taken up into the inner
realm。 That the simple and ultimate nature of law is infinity means； according to the foregoing
analysis； （a） that it is a self…identical element； which； however； is inherently distinction； or that it is
selfsameness which repels itself from itself； breaks asunder into two factors。 What was called
simple force duplicates itself； and through its infinity is law。 It means （b） that what is thus sundered；
constituting as it does the parts which are thought of as in the law； puts itself forward as subsisting；
as stable； and； if the parts are considered without the conception of internal distinction； then space
and time； or distance and velocity； which appear as moments of gravity； are just as much
indifferent and without necessary relation to one another as to gravity itself； or again as this bare
gravity is indifferent to them； or as simple electricity is indifferent to positive and negative。 But （c）
by this conception of internal distinction； this unlike and indifferent factor； space and time； etc。；
becomes a distinction； which is no distinction； or merely a distinction of what is selfsame； and its
essence is unity。 They are reciprocally awakened into activity as positive and negative by each
other； and their being lies rather in their putting themselves as not…being； and cancelling themselves
in the common unity。 Both the factors distinguished subsist； they are per se； and they are per se as
opposites； that is are the opposites of themselves； they have their antithesis within them； and are
merely one