The transition from property to contract is a philosophical or logical transition that doesn't add new elements to property but reveals its inherent relational nature.

In Hegel's perspective property is considered to be an embodiment of the will, which becomes concrete through recognition by others, on the basis of a common will. This common will is foundational to the concept of property and is explicitly expressed in contracts.

Contracts, therefore, are not just legal agreements but the manifestation of a collective will that acknowledges individual freedoms and ownership. They represent a higher realization of freedom, transcending the mere possession of things to embody the collective will and recognition of personhood.

However, contracts are also a limited expression of freedom, as they can be contested and do not fully encapsulate the idea of freedom where understanding and existence align.

This nuanced view of contracts highlights their role in the broader dynamic of realizing freedom, beyond economic or psychological processes, and points to the need for further analysis to understand their place in political reality.