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§ 96 The individual traverses as a unity various grades of development； and remains the same
individual； in like manner also does a people。
§ 97 The life of a people ripens a certain fruit。 But this fruit does not fall back into the bosom of
the people that produced it； but bees a poison…draught to it。
§ 98 The principles of the successive phases of Spirit that animate Nations； are only steps of the
one universal Spirit。
§ 99 Philosophy； as occupying itself with the True； has only to do with the eternally present。。
Introduction
The subject of this course of Lectures is the Philosophical History of the World。 And by this must
be understood； not a collection of general observations respecting it； suggested by the study of its
records； and proposed to be illustrated by its facts； but Universal History itself。
I cannot mention any work that will serve as a pendium of the course； but I may remark that in
my The Philosophy of Right §§。 341…360； I have already given a definition of such a Universal
History as it is proposed to develop； and a syllabus of the chief elements or periods into which it
naturally divides itself。
To gain a clear idea at the outset； of the nature of our task； it seems necessary to begin with an
examination of the other methods of treating History。 The various methods may be ranged under
three heads：
I。 Original History
II。 Reflective History
III。 Philosophical History
i。 Reason Governs the World
ii。 Essential destiny of Reason
（1） The Abstract Characteristics of the Nature of Spirit
（2） The Means Spirit Uses to Realize Its Idea
（3） The Embodiment Spirit Assumes … the State
iii。 The Course of the World's History
I。Original History
§ 1
Of the first kind； the mention of one or two distinguished names will furnish a definite type。 To this
category belong Herodotus； Thucydides； and other historians of the same order； whose
descriptions are for the most part limited to deeds； events； and states of society； which they had
before their eyes； and whose spirit they shared。 They simply transferred what was passing in the
world around them； to the realm of representative intellect。 An external phenomenon is thus
translated into an internal conception。 In the same way the poet operates upon the material
supplied him by his emotions； projecting it into an image for the conceptive faculty。 These original
historians did； it is true； find statements and narratives of other men ready to hand。 One person
cannot be an eye and ear witness of everything。 But they make use of such aids only as the poet
does of that heritage of an already…formed language； to which he owes so much； merely as an
ingredient。 Historiographers bind together the fleeting elements of story； and treasure them up for
immortality in the Temple of Mnemosyne。 Legends； Ballad…stories； Traditions must be excluded
from such original history。 These are but dim and hazy forms of historical apprehension； and
therefore belong to nations whose intelligence is but half awakened。 Here； on the contrary； we
have to do with people fully conscious of what they were and what they were about。 The domain
of reality — actually seen； or capable of being so — affords a very different basis in point of
firmness from that fugitive and shadowy element； in which were engendered those legends and
poetic dreams whose historical prestige vanishes； as soon as nations have attained a mature
individuality。
§ 2
Such original historians； then； change the events； the deeds and the states of society with which
they are conversant； into an object for the conceptive faculty。 The narratives they leave us cannot；
therefore； be very prehensive in their range。 Herodotus； Thucydides； Guieciardini； may be
taken as fair samples of the class in this respect。 What is present and living in their environment； is
their proper material。 The influences that have formed the writer are identical with those which
have moulded the events that constitute the matter of his story。 The author's spirit； and that of the
actions he narrates； is one and the same。 He describes scenes in which he himself has been an
actor； or at any rate an interested spectator。 It is short periods of time； individual shapes of
persons and occurrences； single unreflected traits； of which be makes his picture。 And his aim is
nothing more than the presentation to posterity of an image of events as clear as that which be
himself possessed in virtue of personal observation； or life…like descriptions。 Reflections are none
of his business； for he lives in the spirit of his subject； he has not attained an elevation above it。 If；
as in Caesar's case； he belongs to the exalted rank of generals or statesmen； it is the prosecution
of his own aims that constitutes the history。
§ 3
Such speeches as we find in Thucydides （for example） of which we can positively assert that they
are not bona fide reports； would seem to make against our statement that a historian of his class
presents us no reflected picture； that persons and people appear in his works in propria persona。
Speeches； it must be allowed； are veritable transactions in the human monwealth； in fact； very
gravely influential transactions。 It is； indeed； often said； 〃Such and such things are only talk〃； by
way of demonstrating their harmlessness。 That for which this excuse is brought； may be mere
〃talk〃； and talk enjoys the important privilege of being harmless。 But addresses of peoples to
peoples； or orations directed to nations and to princes； are integrant constituents of history。
Granted such orations as those of Pericles — the most profoundly acplished； genuine； noble
statesman — were elaborated by Thucydides； it must yet be maintained that they were not foreign
to the character of the speaker。 In the oration in question； these men proclaim the maxims adopted
by their countrymen； and which formed their own character； they record their views of their
political relati