the+critique+of+pure+reason_纯粹理性批判-第17部分
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logical; whereas it is plainly transcendental; and concerns not merely
the clearness or obscurity; but the content and origin of both。 For
the faculty of sensibility not only does not present us with an
indistinct and confused cognition of objects as things in
themselves; but; in fact; gives us no knowledge of these at all。 On
the contrary; so soon as we abstract in thought our own subjective
nature; the object represented; with the properties ascribed to it
by sensuous intuition; entirely disappears; because it was only this
subjective nature that determined the form of the object as a
phenomenon。
In phenomena; we monly; indeed; distinguish that which
essentially belongs to the intuition of them; and is valid for the
sensuous faculty of every human being; from that which belongs to
the same intuition accidentally; as valid not for the sensuous faculty
in general; but for a particular state or organization of this or that
sense。 Accordingly; we are accustomed to say that the former is a
cognition which represents the object itself; whilst the latter
presents only a particular appearance or phenomenon thereof。 This
distinction; however; is only empirical。 If we stop here (as is
usual); and do not regard the empirical intuition as itself a mere
phenomenon (as we ought to do); in which nothing that can appertain to
a thing in itself is to be found; our transcendental distinction is
lost; and we believe that we cognize objects as things in
themselves; although in the whole range of the sensuous world;
investigate the nature of its objects as profoundly as we may; we have
to do with nothing but phenomena。 Thus; we call the rainbow a mere
appearance of phenomenon in a sunny shower; and the rain; the
reality or thing in itself; and this is right enough; if we understand
the latter conception in a merely physical sense; that is; as that
which in universal experience; and under whatever conditions of
sensuous perception; is known in intuition to be so and so determined;
and not otherwise。 But if we consider this empirical datum
generally; and inquire; without reference to its accordance with all
our senses; whether there can be discovered in it aught which
represents an object as a thing in itself (the raindrops of course are
not such; for they are; as phenomena; empirical objects); the question
of the relation of the representation to the object is transcendental;
and not only are the raindrops mere phenomena; but even their circular
form; nay; the space itself through which they fall; is nothing in
itself; but both are mere modifications or fundamental dispositions of
our sensuous intuition; whilst the transcendental object remains for
us utterly unknown。
The second important concern of our aesthetic is that it does not
obtain favour merely as a plausible hypothesis; but possess as
undoubted a character of certainty as can be demanded of any theory
which is to serve for an organon。 In order fully to convince the
reader of this certainty; we shall select a case which will serve to
make its validity apparent; and also to illustrate what has been
said in SS 3。
Suppose; then; that space and time are in themselves objective;
and conditions of the… possibility of objects as things in themselves。
In the first place; it is evident that both present us; with very many
apodeictic and synthetic propositions a priori; but especially
space… and for this reason we shall prefer it for investigation at
present。 As the propositions of geometry are cognized synthetically
a priori; and with apodeictic certainty; I inquire: Whence do you
obtain propositions of this kind; and on what basis does the
understanding rest; in order to arrive at such absolutely necessary
and universally valid truths?
There is no other way than through intuitions or conceptions; as
such; and these are given either a priori or a posteriori。 The latter;
namely; empirical conceptions; together with the empirical intuition
on which they are founded; cannot afford any synthetical
proposition; except such as is itself also empirical; that is; a
proposition of experience。 But an empirical proposition cannot possess
the qualities of necessity and absolute universality; which;
nevertheless; are the characteristics of all geometrical propositions。
As to the first and only means to arrive at such cognitions; namely;
through mere conceptions or intuitions a priori; it is quite clear
that from mere conceptions no synthetical cognitions; but only
analytical ones; can be obtained。 Take; for example; the
proposition: 〃Two straight lines cannot enclose a space; and with
these alone no figure is possible;〃 and try to deduce it from the
conception of a straight line and the number two; or take the
proposition: 〃It is possible to construct a figure with three straight
lines;〃 and endeavour; in like manner; to deduce it from the mere
conception of a straight line and the number three。 All your
endeavours are in vain; and you find yourself forced to have
recourse to intuition; as; in fact; geometry always does。 You
therefore give yourself an object in intuition。 But of what kind is
this intuition? Is it a pure a priori; or is it an empirical
intuition? If the latter; then neither an universally valid; much less
an apodeictic proposition can arise from it; for experience never
can give us any such proposition。 You must; therefore; give yourself
an object a priori in intuition; and upon that ground your synthetical
proposition。 Now if there did not exist within you a faculty of
intuition a priori; if this subjective condition were not in respect
to its form also the universal condition a priori under which alone
the object of this external intuition is itself possible; if the
object (that is; the triangle) were something in itself; without
relation to you the subject; how could you affirm that that which lies
necessarily in your subjective conditions in order to construct a
triangle; must also necessarily belong to the triangle in itself?
For to your conceptions of three lines; you could not add anything new
(that is; the figure); which; therefore; must necessarily be found
in the object; because the object is given before your cognition;
and not by means of it。 If; therefore; space (and time also) were
not a mere form of your intuition; which contains conditions a priori;
under which alone things can bee external objects for you; and
without which subjective conditions the objects are in themselves
nothing; you could not construct any synthetical proposition
whatsoever regarding external objects。 It is therefore not merely
possible or probable; but indubitably certain; that space and time; as
the necessary conditions of all our external and internal
experience; are merely subjective conditions of all our intuitions; in
relation to which all objects are therefore mere phenomena; and not
things in themselves; presented to us in this particular manner。 And
for this reason; in respect to the form of phenomena; much may be said
a priori; whilst of the thing in itself; which may lie at the
foundation of these phenomena; it is impossible to say anything。
II。 In confirmation of this theory of the ideality of the external
as well as internal sense; consequently of all objects of sense; as
mere phenomena; we may especially remark that all in our cognition
that belongs to intuition contains nothing more than mere relations。
(The feelings of pain and pleasure; and the will; which are not
cognitions; are excepted。) The relations; to wit; of place in an
intuition (extension); change of place (motion); and laws according to
which this change is determined (moving forces)。 That; however;
which is present in this or that place; or any operation going on;
or result taking place in the things themselves; with the exception of
change of place; is not given to us by intuition。 Now by means of mere
relations; a thing cannot be known in itself; and it may therefore
be fairly concluded; that; as through the external sense nothing but
mere representations of relations are given us; the said external
sense in its representation can contain only the relation of the
object to the subject; but not the essential nature of the object as a
thing in itself。
The same is the case with the internal intuition; not only
because; in the internal intuition; the representation of the external
senses constitutes the material with which the mind is occupied; but
because time; in which we place; and which itself antecedes the
consciousness of; these representations in experience; and which; as
the formal condition of the mode according to which objects are placed
in the mind; lies at the foundation of them; contains relations of the
successive; the coexistent; and of that which always must be
coexistent with succession; the permanent。 Now that which; as
representation; can antecede every exercise of thought (of an object);
is intuition; and when it contains nothing but relations; it is the
form of the intuition; which; as it presents us with no
representation; except in so far as something is placed in the mind;
can be nothing else than the mode in which the mind is affected by its
own activity; to wit… i