§　95

The　result　of　this　process　is　then　that　Spirit；　in　rendering　itself　objective　and　making　this　its　being　an

object　of　thought；　on　the　one　hand　destroys　the　determinate　form　of　its　being；　on　the　other　hand

gains　a　prehension　of　the　universal　element　which　it　involves；　and　thereby　gives　a　new　form　to

its　inherent　principle。　In　virtue　of　this；　the　substantial　character　of　the　National　Spirit　has　been

altered；　—　that　is；　its　principle　has　risen　into　another；　and　in　fact　a　higher　principle。

§　96

It　is　of　the　highest　importance　in　apprehending　and　prehending　History　to　have　and　to

understand　the　thought　involved　in　this　transition。　The　individual　traverses　as　a　unity　various　grades

of　development；　and　remains　the　same　individual；　in　like　manner　also　does　a　people；　till　the　Spirit

which　it　embodies　reaches　the　grade　of　universality。　In　this　point　lies　the　fundamental；　the　Ideal

necessity　of　transition。　This　is　the　soul　—　the　essential　consideration　—　of　the　philosophical

prehension　of　History。

§　97

Spirit　is　essentially　the　result　of　its　own　activity；　its　activity　is　the　transcending　of　immediate；　simple；

unreflected　existence；　—　the　negation　of　that　existence；　and　the　returning　into　itself。　We　may

pare　it　with　the　seed；　for　with　this　the　plant　begins；　yet　it　is　also　the　result　of　the　plant's　entire

life。　But　the　weak　side　of　life　is　exhibited　in　the　fact　that　the　mencement　and　the　result　are

disjoined　from　each　other。　Thus　also　is　it　in　the　life　of　individuals　and　peoples。　The　life　of　a　people

ripens　a　certain　fruit；　its　activity　aims　at　the　plete　manifestation　of　the　principle　which　it

embodies。　But　this　fruit　does　not　fall　back