第 23 节
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桃桃逃 更新:2022-08-21 16:33 字数:9285
degrades Reason to a finite and conditioned thing; to identify it with a mere stepping beyond the
finite and conditioned range of understanding。 The real infinite; far from being a mere
transcendence of the finite; always involves the absorption of the finite into its own fuller nature。 In
the same way Kant restored the Idea to its proper dignity: vindicating it for Reason; as a thing
distinct from abstract analytic determinations or from the merely sensible conceptions which
usually appropriate to themselves the name of ideas。 But as respects the Idea also; he never got
beyond its negative aspect; as what ought to be but is not。
The view that the objects of immediate consciousness; which constitute the body of experience;
are mere appearances (phenomena) was another important result of the Kantian philosophy。
Common Sense; that mixture of sense and understanding; believes the objects of which it has
knowledge to be severally independent and self…supporting; and when it becomes evident that they
tend towards and limit one another; the interdependence of one upon another is reckoned
something foreign to them and to their true nature。 The very opposite is the truth。 The things
immediately known are mere appearances … in other words; the ground of their being is not in
themselves but in something else。 But then comes the important step of defining what this
something else is。 According to Kant; the things that we know about are to us appearances only;
and we can never know their essential nature; which belongs to another world we cannot
approach。
Plain minds have not unreasonably taken exception to this subjective idealism; with its reduction of
the facts of consciousness to a purely personal world; created by ourselves alone。 For the true
statement of the case is rather as follows。 The things of which we have direct consciousness are
mere phenomena; not for us only; but in their own nature; and the true and proper case of these
things; finite as they are; is to have their existence founded not in themselves but in the universal
divine Idea。 This view of things; it is true; is as idealist as Kant's; but in contradistinction to the
subjective idealism of the Critical philosophy should be termed absolute idealism。 Absolute
idealism; however; though it is far in advance of vulgar realism; is by no means merely restricted to
philosophy。 It lies at the root of all religion; for religion too believes the actual world we see; the
sum total of existence; to be created and governed by God。
§ 46
But it is not enough simply to indicate the existence of the object of Reason。
Curiosity impels us to seek for knowledge of this identity; this empty
thing…in…itself。 Now knowledge means such an acquaintance with the object as
apprehends its distinct and special subject…matter。 But such subject…matter
involves a complex interconnection in the object itself; and supplies a ground of
connection with many other objects。 In the present case; to express the nature of
the features of the Infinite or Thing…in…itself; Reason would have nothing except
the categories: and in any endeavour so to employ them Reason becomes
over…soaring or 'transcendent'。
Here begins the second stage of the Criticism of Reason which; as an independent
piece of work; is more valuable than the first。 The first part; as has been
explained above; teaches that the categories originate in the unity of
self…consciousness; that any knowledge which is gained by their means has
nothing objective in it; and that the very objectivity claimed for them is only
subjective。 So far as this goes; the Kantian Criticism presents that 'common' type
of idealism known as Subjective Idealism。 It asks no questions about the meaning
or scope of the categories; but simply considers the abstract form of subjectivity
and objectivity; and that even in such a partial way that the former aspect; that of
subjectivity; is retained as a final and purely affirmative term of thought。 In the
second part; however; when Kant examines the application; as it is called; which
Reason makes of the categories in order to know its objects; the content of the
categories; at least in some points of view; comes in for discussion: or; at any
rate; an opportunity presented itself for a discussion of the question。 It is worth
while to see what decision Kant arrives at on the subject of metaphysic; as this
application of the categories to the unconditioned is called。 His method of
procedure we shall here briefly state and criticise。
§47
'a' The first of the unconditioned entities which Kant examines is the Soul (see
above; § 34)。 'In my consciousness'; he says; 'I always find that I (1) am the
determining subject; (2) am singular or abstractly simple; (3) am identical; or one
and the same; in all the variety of what I am conscious of; (4) distinguish myself
as thinking from all the things outside me。'
Now the method of the old metaphysic; as Kant correctly states it; consisted in
substituting for these statements of experience the corresponding categories or
metaphysical terms。 Thus arise these four new propositions: (a) the Soul is a
substance; (b) it is a simple substance; (c) it is numerically identical at the various
periods of existence; (d) it stands in relation to space。
Kant discusses this translation; and draws attention to the Paralogism or mistake
of confounding one kind of truth with another。 He points out that empirical
attributes have here been replaced by categories; and shows that we are not
entitled to argue from the former to the latter; or to put the latter in place of the
former。
This criticism obviously but repeats the observation of Hume (§ 39) that the
categories as a whole ideas of universality and necessity are entirely absent from
sensation; and that the empirical fact both in form and contents differs from its
intellectual formulation。
If the purely empirical fact were held to constitute the credentials of the thought;
then no doubt it would be indispensable to be able precisely to identify the 'idea'
in the 'impression'。
And in order to make out; in his criticism of the metaphysical psychology; that the
soul cannot be described as substantial; simple; self…same; and as maintaining its
independence in intercourse with the material world; Kant argues from the single
ground that the several attributes of the soul; which consciousness lets us feel in
experience; are not exactly the same attributes as result from the action of
thought thereon。 But we have seen above that according to Kant all knowledge;
even experience; consists in thinking our impressions in other words; in
transforming into intellectual categories the attributes primarily belonging to
sensation。
Unquestionably one good result of the Kantian criticism was that it emancipated
mental philosophy from the 'soul…thing'; from the categories; and; consequently;
from questions about the simplicity; complexity; materiality; etc。; of the soul。 But
even for the common sense of ordinary men; the true point of view; from which
the inadmissibility of these forms best appears; will be not that they are thoughts;
but that thoughts of such a stamp neither can nor do retain truth。
§47
If thought and phenomenon do not perfectly correspond to one another; we are
free at least to choose which of the two shall be held the defaulter。 The Kantian
idealism; where it touches on the world of Reason; throws the blame on the
thoughts; saying that the thoughts are defective; as not being exactly fitted to the
sensations and to a mode of mind wholly restricted within the range of sensation;
in which as such there are no traces of the presence of these thoughts。 But as to
the actual content of the thought; no question is raised。
§47n
Paralogisms are a species of unsound syllogism; the especial vice of which consists in employing
one and the same word in the two premises with a different meaning。 According to Kant the
method adopted by the rational psychology of the old metaphysicians; when they assumed that the
qualities of the phenomenal soul; as given in experience; formed part of its own real essence; was
based upon such a Paralogism。 Nor can it be denied that predicates like simplicity; permanence;
etc。; are inapplicable to the soul。 But their unfitness is not due to the ground assigned by Kant; that
Reason; by applying them; would exceed its appointed bounds。 The true ground is that this style of
abstract terms is not good enough for the soul; which is very much more than a mere simple or
unchangeable sort of thing。 And thus; for example; while the soul may be admitted to be simple
selfsameness; it is at the same time active and institutes distinctions in its own nature。 But whatever
is merely or abstractly simple is as such also a mere dead thing。 By his polemic against the
metaphysic of the past Kant discarded those predicates from the soul or mind。 He did well; but
when he came to state his reasons; his failure is apparent。