第 23 节
作者: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。