within the particularity of civil society； and its control takes the form of an
external system and organisation for the protection and security of particular ends
and interests en masse； inasmuch as these interests subsist only in this universal。
This universal is immanent in the interests of particularity itself and； in
accordance with the Idea； particularity makes it the end and object of its own
willing and activity。 In this way ethical principles circle back and appear in civil
society as a factor immanent in it； this constitutes the specific character of the
Corporation。
（b） The Corporation
§ 250。
In virtue of the substantiality of its natural and family life； the agricultural class
has directly within itself the concrete universal in which it lives。 The class of civil
servants is universal in character and so has the universal explicitly as its ground
and as the aim of its activity。 The class between them； the business class； is
essentially concentrated on the particular； and hence it is to it that Corporations
are specially appropriate。
§ 251。
The labour organisation of civil society is split； in accordance with the nature of
its particulars； into different branches。 The implicit likeness of such particulars to
one another becomes really existent in an association； as something common to its
members。 Hence a selfish purpose； directed towards its particular self…interest；
apprehends and evinces itself at the same time as universal； and a member of civil
society is in virtue of his own particular skill a member of a Corporation； whose
universal purpose is thus wholly concrete and no wider in scope than the purpose
involved in business； its proper task and interest。
§ 252。
In accordance with this definition of its functions； a Corporation has the right；
under the surveillance of the public authority； （a） to look after its own interests
within its own sphere； （b） to co…opt members； qualified objectively by the
requisite skill and rectitude； to a number fixed by the general structure of society；
（c） to protect its members against particular contingencies； （d） to provide the
education requisite to fit others to become members。 In short； its right is to come
on the scene like a second family for its members； while civil society can only be
an indeterminate sort of family because it comprises everyone and so is farther
removed from individuals and their special exigencies。
Remark： The Corporation member is to be distinguished from a day labourer or from a man
who is prepared to undertake casual employment on a single occasion。 The former who is； or will
become； master of his craft； is a member of the association not for casual gain on single occasions
but for the whole range； the universality； of his personal livelihood。
Privileges； in the sense of the rights of a branch of civil society organised into a Corporation； are
distinct in meaning from privileges…proper； in the etymological sense。 The latter are casual
exceptions to reversal rules； the former； however； are only the crystallisation； as regulations； of
characteristics inherent in an essential branch of society itself owing to its nature as particular。
§ 253。
In the Corporation； the family has its stable basis in the sense that its livelihood is
assured there； conditionally upon capability； i。e。 it has a stable capital （see § 170）
— In addition； his nexus of capability and livelihood is a recognised fact； with he
result that the Corporation member needs no external marks beyond his own
membership as evidence of his skill and his regular income and subsistence； i。e。 as
evidence that he is a somebody。 It is also recognised that he belongs to a whole
which is itself an organ of the entire society； and that he is actively concerned in
promoting the comparatively disinterested end of this whole。 Thus he commands
the respect due to one in his social position。
Remark： The institution of Corporations corresponds； on account of its assurance of capital； to
the introduction of agriculture and private property in another sphere （see Remark to § 203）。
When complaints are made about the luxury of the business classes their passion for extravagance
— which have as their concomitant creation of a rabble of paupers （see § 244） — we must not
forget that besides its other causes （e。g。 increasing mechanisation of labour） this phenomenon has
an ethical ground； as was indicated above。 Unless he is a member of an authorised Corporation
（and it is only by being authorised that an association becomes a Corporation）； an individual is
without rank or dignity； his isolation reduces his business to re self…seeking； and his livelihood and
satisfaction become insecure。 Consequently； he has to try to gain recognition for himself by giving
external proofs of success in his business； and to these proofs no limits can be set。 He cannot live
in the manner of his class； for no class really exists for him； since in civil society it is only something
common to particular persons which really exists； i。e。 something legally constituted and recognised。
Hence he cannot achieve for himself a way of life proper to his class and less idiosyncratic。
Within the Corporation the help which poverty receives loses its accidental character and the
humiliation wrongfully associated with it。 The wealthy perform their duties to their fellow associates
and thus riches cease to inspire either pride or envy； pride in their owners； envy in others。 In these
conditions rectitude obtains its proper recognition and respect。
§ 254。
The so…called ‘natural’ right of exercising one’s skill and thereby earning what
there is to be earned is restricted within the Corporation only in so far as it is
therein made rational instead of natural。 That is to say； it becomes freed from
personal opinion and contingency； saved from endangering either the individual
workman or others； recognised； guaranteed； and at the same time elevated to
conscious effort for a common end。
§ 255。
As the family was the first； so the Corporation is the second ethical root of the
state； the one planted in civil society。 The former contains the moments of
subjective particularity and objective universality in a substantial unity。 But these
moments are sundered in civil society to begin with； on the one side there is the
particularity of need and satisfaction； reflected into itself； and on the other side
the universality of abstract rights。 In the Corporation these moments are united in
an inward fashion； so that in this union particular welfare is present as a right and
is actualised。
Remark： The sanctity of marriage and the dignity of Corporation membership are the two fixed
points round which the unorganised atoms of civil society revolve。
Addition： The consideration behind the abolition of Corporations in recent times is that the
individual should fend for himself。 But we may grant this and still hold that corporation membership
does not alter a man’s obligation to earn his living。 Under modem political conditions； the citizens
have only a restricted share in the public business of the state； yet it is essential to provide men —
ethical entities — with work of a public character over and above their private business。 This work
of a public character； which the modern state does not always provide； is found in the
Corporation。 We saw earlier ＇Addition to § 184＇ that in fending for himself a member of civil
society is also working for others。 But this unconscious compulsion is not enough； it is in the
Corporation that it first changes into a known and thoughtful ethical mode of life。 Of course
Corporations must fall under the higher surveillance of the state； because otherwise they would
ossify； build themselves in； and decline into a miserable system of castes。 In and by itself； however；
a Corporation is not a closed caste； its purpose is rather to bring an isolated trade into the social
order and elevate it to a sphere in which it gains strength and respect。
§ 256。
The end of the Corporation is restricted and finite； while the public authority was
an external organisation involving a separation and a merely relative identity of
controller and controlled The end of the former and the externality and relative
identity of the latter find their truth in the absolutely universal end and its absolute
actuality。 Hence the sphere of civil society passes over into the state。
Remark： The town is the seat of the civil life of business。 There reflection arises； turns in upon
itself； and pursues its atomising task； each man maintains himself in and through his relation to
others who； like himself； are persons possessed of rights。 The country； on the other hand； is the
seat of an ethical life resting on nature and the family。 Town and country thus constitute the two
moments； still ideal moments； whose true ground is the state； although it is from them th