第 64 节
作者:
桃桃逃 更新:2022-08-21 16:33 字数:9317
must; by its negation; give itself the character of explicitness。 As in every case;
speculative identity is not the above…mentioned triviality of an implicit identity of
subject and object。 This has been said often enough。 Yet it could not be too often
repeated; if the intention were really to put an end to the stale and purely
malicious misconception in regard to this identity — of which however there can
be no reasonable expectation。
Looking at that unity in a quite general way; and raising no objection to the
one…sided form of its implicitness; we find it as the well…known presupposition of
the ontological proof for the existence of God。 There it appears as supreme
perfection。 Anselm; in whom the notable suggestion of this proof first occurs; no
doubt originally restricted himself to the question whether a certain content was in
our thinking only。 His words are briefly these: 〃Certainly that; than which nothing
greater can be thought; cannot be in the intellect alone。 For even if it is in the
intellect alone; it can also be thought to exist in fact: and that is greater。 If then
that; than which nothing greater can be thought; is in the intellect alone; then the
very thing; which is greater than anything which can be thought; can be exceeded
in thought。 But certainly this is impossible〃。 The same unity received a more
objective expression in Descartes; Spinoza; and others: while the theory of
immediate certitude or faith presents it; on the contrary; in somewhat the same
subjective aspect as Anselm。 These Intuitionalists hold that in our consciousness
the attribute of being is indissolubly associated with the conception of God。 The
theory of faith brings even the conception of external finite things under the same
inseparable nexus between the consciousness and the being of them; on the
ground that perception presents them conjoined with the attribute of existence:
and in so saying; it is no doubt correct。 It would be utterly absurd; however; to
suppose that the association in consciousness between existence and our
conception of finite things is of the same description as the association between
existence and the conception of God。 To do so would be to forget that finite
things are changeable and transient; i。e。 that existence is associated with them for
a season; but that the association is neither eternal nor inseparable。 Speaking in
the phraseology of the categories before us; we may say that; to call a thing finite;
means that its objective existence is not in harmony with the thought of it; with its
universal calling; its kind; and its end。 Anselm; consequently; neglecting any such
conjunction as occurs in finite things; has with good reason pronounced that only
to be the Perfect which exists not merely in a subjective; but also in an objective
mode。 It does no good to put on airs against the Ontological proof; as it is called;
and against Anselm thus defining the Perfect。 The argument is one latent in every
unsophisticated mind; and it recurs in every philosophy; even against its wish and
without its knowledge — as may be seen in the theory of immediate belief。
The real fault in the argumentation of Anselm is one which is chargeable on
Descartes and Spinoza; as well as on the theory of immediate knowledge。 It is
this。 This unity which is enunciated as the supreme perfection or; it may be;
subjectively; as the true knowledge; is presupposed; i。e。 it is assumed only as
potential。 This identity; abstract as it thus appears; between the two categories
may be at once met and opposed by their diversity; and this was the very answer
given to Anselm long ago。 In short; the conception and existence of the finite is
set in antagonism to the infinite; for; as previously remarked; the finite possesses
objectivity of such a kind as is at once incongruous with and different from the
end or aim; its essence and notion。 Or; the finite is such a conception and in such
a way subjective; that it does not involve existence。 This objection and this
antithesis are got over; only by showing the finite to be untrue and these
categories in their separation to be inadequate and null。 Their identity is thus seen
to be one into which they spontaneously pass over; and in which they are
reconciled。
Third Subdivision of The Logic; The Doctrine of the Notion
B。 THE OBJECT
Development of the Object
Mechanism … Chemism … Teleology
§ 194
The Object is immediate being; because insensible to difference; which in it has
suspended itself。 It is; further; a totality in itself; while at the same time (as this
identity is only the implicit identity of its dynamic elements) it is equally
indifferent to its immediate unity。 It thus breaks up into distinct parts; each of
which is itself the totality。 Hence the object is the absolute contradiction between
a complete independence of the multiplicity; and the equally complete
non…independence of the different pieces。
The definition; which states that the Absolute is the Object; is most definitely
implied in the Leibnitzian Monad。 The Monads are each an object; but an object
implicitly 'representative'; indeed the total representation of the world。 In the
simple unity of the Monad; all difference is merely ideal; not independent or real。
Nothing from without comes into the monad: it is the whole notion in itself; only
distinguished by its own greater or less development。 None the less; this simple
totality parts into the absolute multeity of differences; each becoming an
independent monad。 In the monad of monads; and the Pre…established Harmony
of their inward developments; these substances are in like manner again reduced
to 'identity' and unsubstantiality。 The philosophy of Leibnitz; therefore; represents
contradiction in its complete development。
§ 194n1
(1) As Fichte in modern times has especially and with justice insisted; the theory which regards
the Absolute or God as the Object and there stops; expresses the point of view taken by
superstition and slavish fear。 No doubt God is the Object; and; indeed; the Object out and out;
confronted with which our particular or subjective opinions and desires have no truth and no
validity。 As absolute object; however; God does not therefore take up the position of a dark and
hostile power over against subjectivity。 He rather involves it as a vital element in himself。 Such also
is the meaning of the Christian doctrine; according to which God has willed that all men should be
saved and all attain blessedness。 The salvation and the blessedness of men are attained when they
come to feel themselves at one with God; so that God; on the other hand; ceases to be for them
mere object; and; in that way; an object of fear and terror; as was especially the case with the
religious consciousness of the Romans。 But God in the Christian religion is also known as Love;
because in his Son; who is one with him; he has revealed himself to men as a man among men; and
thereby redeemed them。 All of which is only another way of saying that the antithesis of subjective
and objective is implicitly overcome; and that it is our affair to participate in this redemption by
laying aside our immediate subjectivity (putting off the old Adam); and learning to know God as
our true and essential self。
Just as religion and religious worship consist in overcoming the antithesis of subjectivity and
objectivity; so science too and philosophy have no other task than to overcome this antithesis by
the medium of thought。 The aim of knowledge is to divest the objective world that stands opposed
to us of its strangeness; and; as the phrase is; to find ourselves at home in it: which means no more
than to trace the objective world back to the notion … to our innermost self。 We may learn from the
present discussion the mistake of regarding the antithesis of subjectivity and objectivity as an
abstract and permanent one。 The two are wholly dialectical。 The notion is at first only subjective:
but without the assistance of any foreign material or stuff it proceeds; in obedience to its own
action; to objectify itself。 So; too; the object is not rigid and processless。 Its process is to show
itself as what is at the same time subjective; and thus form the step onwards to the idea。 Any one
who; from want of familiarity with the categories of subjectivity and objectivity; seeks to retain
them in their abstraction will find that the isolated categories slip through his fingers before he is
aware; and that he says the exact contrary of what he wanted to say。
§ 194n2
(2) Objectivity contains the three forms of Mechanism; Chemism; and Teleology。 The object of
mechanical type is the immediate and undifferentiated object。 No doubt it contains difference; but
the different pieces stand; as it were; without affinity to each other; and their connection is only
extraneous。 In chemism; on the contrary; the object exhibits an essential tendency to
differentiation; in such a way that the objects are what they are only by their relati