the+critique+of+pure+reason_纯粹理性批判-第56部分
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establish an a priori judgement upon things。 We shall now proceed to
fulfil this duty; and thereby throw not a little light on the question
as to the determination of the proper business of the understanding。
1。 Identity and Difference。 When an object is presented to us
several times; but always with the same internal determinations
(qualitas et quantitas); it; if an object of pure understanding; is
always the same; not several things; but only one thing (numerica
identitas); but if a phenomenon; we do not concern ourselves with
paring the conception of the thing with the conception of some
other; but; although they may be in this respect perfectly the same;
the difference of place at the same time is a sufficient ground for
asserting the numerical difference of these objects (of sense)。
Thus; in the case of two drops of water; we may make plete
abstraction of all internal difference (quality and quantity); and;
the fact that they are intuited at the same time in different
places; is sufficient to justify us in holding them to be
numerically different。 Leibnitz regarded phenomena as things in
themselves; consequently as intelligibilia; that is; objects of pure
understanding (although; on account of the confused nature of their
representations; he gave them the name of phenomena); and in this case
his principle of the indiscernible (principium identatis
indiscernibilium) is not to be impugned。 But; as phenomena are objects
of sensibility; and; as the understanding; in respect of them; must be
employed empirically and not purely or transcendentally; plurality and
numerical difference are given by space itself as the condition of
external phenomena。 For one part of space; although it may be
perfectly similar and equal to another part; is still without it;
and for this reason alone is different from the latter; which is added
to it in order to make up a greater space。 It follows that this must
hold good of all things that are in the different parts of space at
the same time; however similar and equal one may be to another。
2。 Agreement and Opposition。 When reality is represented by the pure
understanding (realitas noumenon); opposition between realities is
incogitable… such a relation; that is; that when these realities are
connected in one subject; they annihilate the effects of each other
and may be represented in the formula 3 … 3 = 0。 On the other hand;
the real in a phenomenon (realitas phaenomenon) may very well be in
mutual opposition; and; when united in the same subject; the one may
pletely or in part annihilate the effect or consequence of the
other; as in the case of two moving forces in the same straight line
drawing or impelling a point in opposite directions; or in the case of
a pleasure counterbalancing a certain amount of pain。
3。 The Internal and External。 In an object of the pure
understanding; only that is internal which has no relation (as regards
its existence) to anything different from itself。 On the other hand;
the internal determinations of a substantia phaenomenon in space are
nothing but relations; and it is itself nothing more than a plex of
mere relations。 Substance in space we are cognizant of only through
forces operative in it; either drawing others towards itself
(attraction); or preventing others from forcing into itself (repulsion
and impenetrability)。 We know no other properties that make up the
conception of substance phenomenal in space; and which we term matter。
On the other hand; as an object of the pure understanding; every
substance must have internal determination and forces。 But what
other internal attributes of such an object can I think than those
which my internal sense presents to me? That; to wit; which in
either itself thought; or something analogous to it。 Hence Leibnitz;
who looked upon things as noumena; after denying them everything
like external relation; and therefore also position or bination;
declared that all substances; even the ponent parts of matter; were
simple substances with powers of representation; in one word; monads。
4。 Matter and Form。 These two conceptions lie at the foundation of
all other reflection; so inseparably are they connected with every
mode of exercising the understanding。 The former denotes the
determinable in general; the second its determination; both in a
transcendental sense; abstraction being made of every difference in
that which is given; and of the mode in which it is determined。
Logicians formerly termed the universal; matter; the specific
difference of this or that part of the universal; form。 In a judgement
one may call the given conceptions logical matter (for the judgement);
the relation of these to each other (by means of the copula); the form
of the judgement。 In an object; the posite parts thereof
(essentialia) are the matter; the mode in which they are connected
in the object; the form。 In respect to things in general; unlimited
reality was regarded as the matter of all possibility; the
limitation thereof (negation) as the form; by which one thing is
distinguished from another according to transcendental conceptions。
The understanding demands that something be given (at least in the
conception); in order to be able to determine it in a certain
manner。 Hence; in a conception of the pure understanding; the matter
precedes the form; and for this reason Leibnitz first assumed the
existence of things (monads) and of an internal power of
representation in them; in order to found upon this their external
relation and the munity their state (that is; of their
representations)。 Hence; with him; space and time were possible… the
former through the relation of substances; the latter through the
connection of their determinations with each other; as causes and
effects。 And so would it really be; if the pure understanding were
capable of an immediate application to objects; and if space and
time were determinations of things in themselves。 But being merely
sensuous intuitions; in which we determine all objects solely as
phenomena; the form of intuition (as a subjective property of
sensibility) must antecede all matter (sensations); consequently space
and time must antecede all phenomena and all data of experience; and
rather make experience itself possible。 But the intellectual
philosopher could not endure that the form should precede the things
themselves and determine their possibility; an objection perfectly
correct; if we assume that we intuite things as they are; although
with confused representation。 But as sensuous intuition is a
peculiar subjective condition; which is a priori at the foundation
of all perception; and the form of which is primitive; the form must
be given per se; and so far from matter (or the things themselves
which appear) lying at the foundation of experience (as we must
conclude; if we judge by mere conceptions); the very possibility of
itself presupposes; on the contrary; a given formal intuition (space
and time)。
REMARK ON THE AMPHIBOLY OF THE CONCEPTIONS OF REFLECTION。
Let me be allowed to term the position which we assign to a
conception either in the sensibility or in the pure understanding; the
transcendental place。 In this manner; the appointment of the
position which must be taken by each conception according to the
difference in its use; and the directions for determining this place
to all conceptions according to rules; would be a transcendental
topic; a doctrine which would thoroughly shield us from the
surreptitious devices of the pure understanding and the delusions
which thence arise; as it would always distinguish to what faculty
of cognition each conception properly belonged。 Every conception;
every title; under which many cognitions rank together; may be
called a logical place。 Upon this is based the logical topic of
Aristotle; of which teachers and rhetoricians could avail
themselves; in order; under certain titles of thought; to observe what
would best suit the matter they had to treat; and thus enable
themselves to quibble and talk with fluency and an appearance of
profundity。
Transcendental topic; on the contrary; contains nothing more than
the above…mentioned four titles of all parison and distinction;
which differ from categories in this respect; that they do not
represent the object according to that which constitutes its
conception (quantity; reality); but set forth merely the parison of
representations; which precedes our conceptions of things。 But this
parison requires a previous reflection; that is; a determination of
the place to which the representations of the things which are
pared belong; whether; to wit; they are cogitated by the pure
understanding; or given by sensibility。
Conceptions may be logically pared without the trouble of
inquiring to what faculty their objects belong; whether as noumena; to
the understanding; or as phenomena; to sensibility。 If; however; we
wish to employ these conceptions in respect of objects; previous
transcendental reflection is necessary。 Without this reflection I
should make a very unsafe use of these conceptions; and construct
pretended synthetical propositions which critical reason cannot
acknowledge a