the previously developed objective totality； the absolutely determined identity of the system。
The objective being…in…and…for…self appears therefore more specifically in its totality as the
negative unity of the centre； which divides itself into subjective individuality and external
objectivity； maintains the former in the latter and determines it in an ideal difference。 This
self…determining unity that absolutely reduces external objectivity to ideality is the principle of
self…movement the determinateness of this animating principle； which is the difference of the
Notion itself； is law。 Dead mechanism was the mechanical process considered above of objects
that appeared immediately as self…subsistent but which for that very reason are； in truth； not
self…subsistent and have their centre outside themselves； this process； which passes over into rest；
exhibits either contingency and indeterminate dissimilarity or formal uniformity。 This uniformity is
indeed a rule； but not a law。 Only free mechanism has a law； the spontaneous determination of
pure individuality or of the explicated Notion； as difference； it is in its own self the imperishable
source of self…kindling movement； and since in the ideality of its difference it relates itself to itself
alone； it is free necessity。
（c） Transition of Mechanism
This soul； however； is still submerged in its body： the Notion of the objective totality； determinate
now but inner； is free necessity — the law has not yet confronted its object； it is the concrete
centrality as universality immediately expanded into its objectivity。 This ideality； therefore； has not
the objects themselves for its determinate difference； these are self…subsistent individuals of the
totality； or also； if we look back to the formal stage； non…individual； external objects。 Law is
indeed immanent in them and constitutes their nature and power； but its difference is confined
within its ideality； and the objects are not themselves differentiated into the ideal difference of the
law。 But it is solely in the ideal centrality and its laws that the object possesses its essential
self…subsistence； it is therefore powerless to resist the judgment of the Notion and to maintain itself
in abstract； indeterminate self…subsistence and aloofness。
By virtue of the ideal difference immanent in it； its existence is a determinateness posited by the
Notion。 Its lack of self…subsistence is in this way no longer merely a striving towards the centre；
as against which； just because its relation to it is only a striving； it still has the appearance of a
self…subsistent external object； on the contrary； it is a striving towards the object specifically
opposed to it； and similarly the centre itself has in consequence fallen asunder and its negative
unity passed has over into objectified opposition。 Centrality is； therefore； now a relation of these
reciprocally negative objectivities in a state of mutual tension。 Thus free mechanism determines
itself into chemism。
Chapter 2 Chemism
Chemism constitutes in objectivity as a whole； the moment of judgment； of the difference that has
become objective； and of the process。 Since it already begins with determinateness and
positedness and the chemical object is at the same time an objective totality； its immediate course
is simple and is completely determined by its presupposition。
A。 THE CHEMICAL OBJECT
The chemical object is distinguished from the mechanical by the fact that the latter is a totality
indifferent to determinateness； whereas in the case of the chemical object the determinateness；
and consequently the relation to other and the kind and manner of this relation； belong to its
nature。 This determinateness is at the same time essentially a particularisation； that is； it is taken
up into universality； thus it is a principle — universal determinateness； the determinateness not
only of the one individual object but also of the other。 In the chemical object； therefore； we now
have the distinction between its Notion as the inner totality of the two determinatenesses； and the
determinateness that constitutes the nature of the individual object in its externality and concrete
existence。 Since in this way it is in itself or implicitly the whole Notion； it has in its own self the
necessity and the urge to sublate its opposed； one sided — existence and to give itself an
existence as that real whole that according to its Notion it is。
With regard to the expression chemism for the relation of the difference of objectivity as it has
presented itself； it may be further remarked that the expression must not be understood here as
though this relation only exhibited itself in that form of elemental nature to which the name chemism
so called is strictly applied。 Even the meteorological relation must be regarded as a process whose
parts have the nature more of physical than chemical elements。 In the animate world； the sex
relation comes under this schema and it also constitutes the formal basis for the spiritual relations
of love； friendship； and the like。
Examined more closely the chemical object； as a self…subsistent totality in general； is in the first
instance an object that is reflected into itself and to that extent is distinct from its reflectedness
outwards — an indifferent base； the individual not yet specified as different； the person； too； is
such a base related at first only to itself。 But the immanent determinateness which constitutes its
difference； is first reflected into itself in such a manner that this retraction of the relation outwards
is only formal abstract universality； thus the relation outwards is the determination of its immediacy
and concrete existence。 From this aspect； it does not in its own self return into the individual
totality； and the negative unity has the two moments of its opposition in two particular objects。
Accordingly； a chemical object is not comprehensible from itself alone； and the being of one is the
being of the other。 But secondly； the determinateness is absolutely reflected into itself and is the
concrete moment of the individual Notion of the whole； which Notion is the universal essence； the
real genus of the particular object。 The chemical object； which is thus the contradiction of its
immediate positedness and its immanent individual Notion； is a striving to sublate the
determinateness of its existence and to give concrete existence to the objective totality of the
Notion。 Therefore； though it also lacks self…subsistence； it spontaneously tenses itself against this
deficiency and initiates the process by its self…determining。
B。 THE CHEMICAL PROCESS
1。 It begins with the presupposition that the objects in tension； tensed as they are against
themselves； are in the first instance by that very fact just as much tensed against one another — a
relationship that is called their affinity。 Since each through its Notion stands in contradiction to the
one…sidedness of its own existence and consequently strives to sublate it； there is immediately
posited in this fact the striving to sublate the one…sidedness of the other object； and through this
reciprocal adjustment and combination to posit a reality conformable to the Notion； which
contains both moments。
As each of the objects is posited as self…contradictory and self…sublating in its own self； it is only
by an external compulsion ＇Gewalt＇ that they are held apart from one another and from their
reciprocal integration。 Now the middle term whereby these extremes are concluded into a unity is
first the implicit nature of both； the whole Notion that holds both within itself。 Secondly； however；
since in their concrete existence they stand confronting each other； their absolute unity is also a still
formal element having an existence distinct from them — the element of communication in
which they enter into external community with each other。 Since the real difference belongs to the
extremes； this middle term is only the abstract neutrality； the real possibility of those extremes； it is；
as it were； the theoretical element of the concrete existence of chemical objects； of their process
and its result。 In the material world water fulfils the function of this medium； in the spiritual world；
so far as the analogue of such a relation has a place there； the sign in general； and more precisely
language； is to be regarded as fulfilling that function。
The relationship of the objects； as a mere communication in this element； is on the one hand a
quiescent coming…together； but on the other hand it is no less a negative bearing of each to the
other； for in communication the concrete Notion which is their nature is posited as a reality； with
the result that the real differences of the objects are reduced to its unity。 Their previous
self…subsistent determinateness is thus sublated in the union that conforms to the Notion； which is
one and the same in both； and thereby their opposition and tension are weakened； with the result
that in this reciprocal integration the striving reaches its quiescent neutrality。
The process is in this way extinguished； the contradiction between the Notion and reality being
resolved； the extremes of the syllogism have lost their opposition and have thus ceased to be
extremes both against each other and against the middle term。 The product is neutral； that is； a
product in which the ingredients； which can no longer be called objects； have lost their tension and
with it those properties which belonged to them as tensed； while the capability of their former
self…subsistence and tension is preserved。 For the negative unity of the neutral product proceeds
from a presupposed difference； the determinateness of the chemical object is identical with its
objectivity； it is original。 Through the process just considered this difference is as yet only
immediately sublated； the determinateness is； therefore； as yet not absolutely reflected into itself；
and consequently the product of the process is only a formal unity。
2。 Now in this product； the tension of the opposition and the negative unity； as activity of the
process； are indeed extinct。 But since this unity is essential to the Notion a