第 20 节
作者:
桃桃逃 更新:2022-08-21 16:33 字数:9316
process; and that the main point is the reunion of what has been parted。 And it is where analysis
never gets beyond the stage of partition that the words of the poet are true:
Encheiresin Naturae nennt's die Chemie;
Spottet ihrer selbat; und weiss nicht; wie:
hat die Theile in ihrer Hand;
Fehlt leider nur das geistige Band。
Analysis starts from the concrete; and the possession of this material gives it a considerable
advantage over the abstract thinking of the old metaphysics。 It establishes the differences in things;
and this is very important; but these very differences are nothing after all but abstract attributes; i。e。
thoughts。 These thoughts; it is assumed; contain the real essence of the objects; and thus once
more we see the axiom of bygone metaphysics reappear; that the truth of things lies in thought。
Let us next compare the empirical theory with that of metaphysics in the matter of their respective
contents 。 We find the latter; as already stated; taking for its theme the universal objects of the
reason; viz。 God; the Soul; and the World: and these themes; accepted from popular conception;
it was the problem of philosophy to reduce into the form of thoughts。 Another specimen of the
same method was the Scholastic philosophy; the theme presupposed by which was formed by the
dogmas of the Christian Church; and it aimed at fixing their meaning and giving them a systematic
arrangement through thought。 The facts on which Empiricism is based are of entirely different kind。
They are the sensible facts of nature and the facts of the finite mind。 In other words; Empiricism
deals with a finite material; and the old metaphysicians had an infinite … though; let us add; they
made this infinite content finite by the finite form of the understanding。 The same finitude of form
reappears in Empiricism … but here the facts are finite also。 To this extent; then; both modes of
philosophising have the same method; both proceed from data or assumptions; which they accept
as ultimate。
Generally speaking; Empiricism finds the truth in the outward world; and even if it allow a
supersensible world; it holds knowledge of that world to be impossible; and would restrict us to
the province of sense…perception。 This doctrine when systematically carried out produces what
has been latterly termed Materialism。 Materialism of this stamp looks upon matter; qua matter; as
the genuine objective world。 But with matter we are at once introduced to an abstraction; which as
such cannot be perceived; and it may be maintained that there is no matter; because; as it exists; it
is always something definite and concrete。 Yet the abstraction we term matter is supposed to lie at
the basis of the whole world of sense; and expresses the sense…world in its simplest terms as
out…and…out individualisation; and hence a congeries of points in mutual exclusion。 So long then as
this sensible sphere is and continues to be for Empiricism a mere datum; we have a doctrine of
bondage: for we become free; when we are confronted by no absolutely alien world; but depend
upon a fact which we ourselves are。 Consistently with the empirical point of view; besides; reason
and unreason can only be subjective: in other words; we must take what is given just as it is; and
we have no right to ask whether and to what extent it is rational in its own nature。
§39
Touching this principle it has been justly observed that in what we call
Experience; as distinct from mere single perception of single facts; there are two
elements。 The one is the matter; infinite in its multiplicity; and as it stands a mere
set of singulars: the other is the form; the characteristics of universality and
necessity。 Mere experience no doubt offers many; perhaps innumerable; cases of
similar perceptions: but; after all; no…multitude; however great; can be the same
thing as universality。 Similarly; mere experience affords perceptions of changes
succeeding each other and of objects in juxtaposition; but it presents no necessary
connection。 If perception; therefore; is to maintain its claim to be the sole basis of
what men hold for truth; universality and necessity appear something illegitimate:
they become an accident of our minds; a mere custom; the content of which
might be otherwise constituted than it is。
It is an important corollary of this theory; that on this empirical mode of treatment
legal and ethical principles and laws; as well as the truths of religion; are exhibited
as the work of chance; and stripped of their objective character and inner truth。
The scepticism of Hume; to which this conclusion was chiefly due; should be
clearly marked off from Greek scepticism。 Hume assumes the truth of the
empirical element; feeling and sensation; and proceeds to challenge universal
principles and laws; because they have no warranty from sense…perception。 So far
was ancient scepticism from making feeling and sensation the canon of truth; that
it turned against the deliverances of sense first of all。 (On modern scepticism as
compared with ancient; see Schelling and Hegel's Critical Journal of Philosophy)
III。 Second Attitude of Thought to Objectivity
TWO。 THE CRITICAL PHILOSOPHY
§40
In common with Empiricism the Critical Philosophy assumes that experience
affords the one sole foundation for cognitions; which however it does not allow to
rank as truths; but only as knowledge of phenomena。
The Critical theory starts originally from the distinction of elements presented in
the analysis of experience; viz。 the matter of sense; and its universal relations。
Taking into account Hume's criticism on this distinction as given in the preceding
section; viz。 that sensation does not explicitly apprehend more than an individual
or more than a mere event; it insists at the same time on the fact that universality
and necessity are seen to perform a function equally essential in constituting what
is called experience。 This element; not being derived from the empirical facts as
such; must belong to the spontaneity of thought; in other words; it is a priori。
The Categories or Notions of the Understanding constitute the objectivity of
experiential cognitions。 In every case they involve a connective reference; and
hence through their means are formed synthetic judgements a priori; that is;
primary and underivative connections of opposites。
Even Hume's scepticism does not deny that the characteristics of universality and
necessity are found in cognition。 And even in Kant this fact remains a
presupposition after all; it may be said; to use the ordinary phraseology of the
sciences; that Kant did no more than offer another explanation of the fact。
§ 41
The Critical Philosophy proceeds to test the value of the categories employed in
metaphysic; as well as in other sciences and in ordinary conception。 This scrutiny
however is not directed to the content of these categories; nor does it inquire into
the exact relation they bear to one another: but simply considers them as affected
by the contrast between subjective and objective。 The contrast; as we are to
understand it here; bears upon the distinction (see preceding §) of the two
elements in experience。 The name of objectivity is here given to the element of
universality and necessity; i。e。 to the categories themselves; or what is called the a
priori constituent。 The Critical Philosophy however widened the contrast in such
a way; that the subjectivity comes to embrace the ensemble of experience;
including both of the aforesaid elements; and nothing remains on the other side
but the 'thing…in…itself'。
The special forms of the a priori element; in other words; of thought; which in
spite of its objectivity is looked upon as a purely subjective act; present
themselves as follows in a systematic order which; it may be remarked; is solely
based upon psychological and historical grounds。
§41n
(1) A very important step was undoubtedly made; when the terms of the old
metaphysic were subjected to scrutiny。 The plain thinker pursued his
unsuspecting way in those categories which had offered themselves naturally。 It
never occurred to him to ask to what extent these categories had a value and
authority of their own。 If; as has been said; it is characteristic of free thought to
allow no assumptions to pass unquestioned; the old metaphysicians were not free
thinkers。 They accepted their categories as they were; without further trouble; as
an a priori datum; not yet tested by reflection。 The Critical philosophy reversed
this。 Kant undertook to examine how far the forms of thought were capable of
leading to the knowledge of truth。 In particular he demanded a criticism of the
faculty of cognition as preliminary to its exercise。 That is a fair demand; if it mean
that even the forms of thought must be made an object of investigation。
Unfortunately there soon creeps in the misconception of already knowing before
you know … the error of refusing to enter the water until you have