第 67 节
作者:
桃桃逃 更新:2022-08-21 16:33 字数:9314
form which it has in consciousness as a mode of mere mental representation。 By
means of the notion of Inner Design Kant has resuscitated the Idea in general
and particularly the idea of life。 Aristotle's definition of life virtually implies inner
design; and is thus far in advance of the notion of design in modern Teleology;
which had in view finite and outward design only。
Animal wants and appetites are some of the readiest instances of the End。 They
are the felt contradiction; which exists within the living subject; and pass into the
activity of negating this negation which mere subjectivity still is。 The satisfaction
of the want or appetite restores the peace between subject and object。 The
objective thing which; so long as the contradiction exists; i。e。 so long as the want
is felt; stands on the other side; loses this quasi…independence; by its union with
the subject。 Those who talk of the permanence and immutability of the finite; as
well subjective as objective; may see the reverse illustrated in the operations of
every appetite。 Appetite is; so to speak; the conviction that the subjective is only a
half…truth; no more adequate than the objective。 But appetite in the second place
carries out its conviction。 It brings about the supersession of these finites: it
cancels the antithesis between the objective which would be and stay an objective
only; and the subjective which in like manner would be and stay a subjective
only。
As regards the action of the End; attention may be called to the fact; that in the
syllogism; which represents that action; and shows the end closing with itself by
the means of realisation; the radical feature is the negation of the termini That
negation is the one just mentioned both of the immediate subjectivity appearing in
the End as such; and of the immediate objectivity as seen in the means and the
objects presupposed。 This is the same negation as is in operation when the mind
leaves the contingent things of the world as well as its own subjectivity and rises
to God。 It is the 'moment' or factor which (as noticed in the Introduction and §
192) was overlooked and neglected in the analytic form of syllogisms; under
which the so…called proofs of the Being of a God presented this elevation。
§ 205
In its primary and immediate aspect the Teleological relation is external design;
and the notion confronts a presupposed object。 The End is consequently finite;
and that partly in its content; partly in the circumstance that it has an external
condition in the object; which has to be found existing; and which is taken as
material for its realisation。 Its self…determining is to that extent in form only。 The
unmediatedness of the End has the further result that its particularity or content …
which as form…characteristic is the subjectivity of the End … is reflected into self;
and so different from the totality of the form; subjectivity in general; the notion。
This variety constitutes the finitude of Design within its own nature。 The content
of the End; in this way; is quite as limited; contingent; and given; as the object is
particular and found ready to hand。
§ 205n
Generally speaking; the final cause is taken to mean nothing more than external design。 In
accordance with this view of it; things are supposed not to carry their vocation in themselves; but
merely to be means employed and spent in realising a purpose which lies outside of them。 That
may be said to be the point of view taken by Utility; which once played a great part even in the
sciences; but of late has fallen into merited disrepute; now that people have begun to see that it
failed to give a genuine insight into the nature of things。 It is true that finite things as finite ought in
justice to be viewed as non…ultimate; and as pointing beyond themselves。 This negativity of finite
things however is their own dialectic; and in order to ascertain it we must pay attention to their
positive content。
Teleological observations on things often proceed from a well…meant wish to display the wisdom
of God as it is especially revealed in nature。 Now in thus trying to discover final causes for which
the things serve as means; we must remember that we are stopping short at the finite; and are
liable to fall into trifling reflections: as; for instance; if we not merely studied the vine in respect of
its well…known use for man; but proceeded to consider the cork…tree in connection with the corks
which are cut from its bark to put into the wine…bottles。 Whole books used to be written in this
spirit。 It is easy to see that they promoted the genuine interest neither of religion nor of science。
External design stands immediately in front of the idea: but what thus stands on the threshold often
for that reason is least adequate。
§ 206
The teleological relation is a syllogism in which the subjective end coalesces with
the objectivity external to it; through a middle term which is the unity of both。
This unity is on one hand the purposive action; on the other the Means; i。e。
objectivity made directly subservient to purpose。
§ 206n
The development from End to Idea ensues by three stages; first; Subjective End; second; End in
process of accomplishment; and third; End accomplished。 First of all we have the Subjective End;
and that; as the notion in independent being; is itself the totality of the elementary functions of the
notion。 The first of these functions is that of self…identical universality; as it were the neutral first
water; in which everything is involved; but nothing as yet discriminated。 The second of these
elements is the particularising of this universal; by which it acquires a specific content。 As this
specific content again is realised by the agency of the universal; the latter returns by its means back
to itself; and coalesces with itself。 Hence too when we set some end before us; we say that we
'conclude' to do something: a phrase which implies that we were; so to speak; open and
accessible to this or that determination。 Similarly we also at a further step speak of a man
'resolving' to do something; meaning that the agent steps forward out of his self…regarding
inwardness and enters into dealings with the environing objectivity。 This supplies the step from the
merely Subjective End to the purposive action which tends outwards。
§ 207
(1) The first syllogism of the final cause represents the Subjective End。 The
universal notion is brought to unite with individuality by means of particularity; so
that the individual as self…determination acts as judge。 That is to say; it not only
particularises or makes into a determinate content the still indeterminate universal;
but also explicitly puts an antithesis of subjectivity and objectivity; and at the
same time is in its own self a return to itself; for it stamps the subjectivity of the
notion; presupposed as against objectivity; with the mark of defect; in comparison
with the complete and rounded totality; and thereby at the same time turns
outwards。
§ 208
(2) This action which is directed outwards is the individuality; which in the
Subjective End is identical with the particularity under which; along with the
content; is also comprised the external objectivity。 It throws itself in the first place
immediately upon the object; which it appropriates to itself as a Means。 The
notion is this immediate power; for the notion is the self…identical negativity; in
which the being of the object is characterised as wholly and merely ideal。 The
whole Middle Term is this inward power of the notion; in the shape of an agency;
with which the object as Means is immediately united and in obedience to which
it stands。
In finite teleology the Middle Term is broken up into two elements external to
each other; (a) the action and (b) the object which serves as Means。 The relation
of the final cause as power to this object; and the subjugation of the object to it;
is immediate (it forms the first premise in the syllogism) to this extent; that in the
teleological notion as the self…existent ideality the object is put as potentially null。
This relation; as represented in the first premise; itself becomes the Middle Term;
which at the same time involves the syllogism; that through this relation…in which
the action of the End is contained and dominant…the End is coupled with
objectivity。
§ 208n
The execution of the End is the mediated mode of realising the End; but the immediate realisation
is not less needful。 The End lays hold of the object immediately; because it is the power over the
object; because in the End particularity; and in particularity objectivity also; is involved。 A living
being has a body; the soul takes possession of it and without intermediary has objectified itself in
it。 The human soul has much to do; before it makes its corporeal nature into a means。 Man must;
as it were; take possession of his body; so that it may