Full Idea
Individuals attain their essential right by discovering their essential self-consciousness in social institutions, as that universal aspect of their particular interests which has being in itself.
Gist of Idea
Individuals attain their right by discovering their self-consciousness in institutions
Source
Georg W.F.Hegel (Elements of the Philosophy of Right [1821], 264)
Book Reference
Hegel,Georg W.F.: 'Elements of the Philosophy of Right', ed/tr. Wood,Allen W. [CUP 1991], p.287
A Reaction
This is the source of the influential idea made famous by Marx. Hegel seems to have a rather rigid and deterministic view of society, which fixes self-consciousness. The modern view is that self-consciousness is endlessly malleable, by society.
Related Idea
Idea 5277 Life is not determined by consciousness, but consciousness by life [Marx/Engels]