第 35 节
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京文 更新:2021-02-19 21:41 字数:9295
any middle term; but directly; almost in the same manner as by the sense。 For the sense in its
primary objects at once apprehends the appearance of the object; and consents to the truth
thereof。” (7) The syllogism is altogether rejected by Bacon。 As a matter of fact; this Aristotelian
deduction is not a knowledge through itself in accordance with its content: it requires a foreign
universal as its basis; and for that reason its movement is in its form contingent。 The content is not
in unity with the form; and this form is hence in itself contingent; because it; considered on its own
account; is the movement onwards in a foreign content。 The major premise is the content existent
for itself; the minor is likewise the content not through itself; for it goes back into the infinite; i。e。; it
has not the form in itself; the form is not the content。 The opposite may always be made out
equally well through the syllogism; for it is a matter of indifference to this form what content is
made its basis。 “Dialectic does not assist in the discovery of the arts; many arts were found out by
chance。” (8)
It was not against this syllogism generally; i。e。; not against the Notion of it (for Bacon did not
possess this); but against deduction as it was put into operation; as it was to the scholastics — the
deduction which took an assumed content as its basis — that Bacon declaimed; urging that the
content of experience should be made the basis; and the method of induction pursued。 He
demanded that observations on nature and experiments should be made fundamental; and pointed
out the objects whose investigation was of special importance in the interests of human society;
and so on。 From this there then resulted the establishment of conclusions through induction and
analogy。 (9) In fact it was only to an alteration in the content that; without being aware of it; Bacon
was impelled。 For though he rejected the syllogism and only permitted conclusions to be reached
through induction; he unconsciously himself drew deductions; likewise all these champions of
empiricism; who followed after him; and who put into practice what he demanded; and thought
they could by observations; experiments and experiences; keep the matter in question pure; could
neither so do without drawing deductions; nor without introducing conceptions; and they drew
their deductions and formed their notions and conceptions all the more freely because they thought
that they had nothing to do with conceptions at all; nor did they go forth from deduction to
immanent; true knowledge。 Thus when Bacon set up induction in opposition to the syllogism; this
opposition is formal; each induction is also a deduction; which fact was known even to Aristotle。
For if a universal is deduced from a number of things; the first proposition reads; “These bodies
have these qualities;” the second; “All these bodies belong to one class;” and thus; in the third
place; this class has these qualities。 That is a perfect syllogism。 Induction always signifies that
observations are instituted; experiments made; experience regarded; and from this the universal
determination is derived。
We have already called to mind how important it is to lead on to the content as the content of
actuality; of the present; for the rational must have objective truth。 The reconciliation of spirit with
the world; the glorification of nature and of all actuality; must not be a Beyond; a Futurity; but must
be accomplished now and here。 It is this moment of the now and here which thereby comes into
self…consciousness。 But those who make experiments and observations; do not realize what they
are really doing; for the sole interest taken by them in things; is owing to the inward and
unconscious certainty which reason has of finding itself in actuality; and observations and
experiments; if entered upon in a right way; result in showing that the Notion is the only objective
existence。 The sensuous individual eludes the experiments even while it is being operated upon;
and becomes a universal; the best known example of this is to be found in positive and negative
electricity in so far as it is positive and negative。 There is another shortcoming of a formal nature;
and one of which all empiricists partake; — that is that they believe themselves to be keeping to
experience alone; it is to them an unknown fact that in receiving these perceptions they are
indulging in metaphysics。 Man does not stop short at the individual; nor can he do so。 He seeks
the universal; but thoughts; even if not Notions likewise; are what constitute the same。 The most
remarkable thought…form is that of force; we thus speak of the force of electricity; of magnetism;
of gravity。 Force; however; is a universal and not a perceptible; quite uncritically and
unconsciously the empiricists thus permit of determinations such as these。
3。 Bacon finally gives the objects with which Philosophy mainly has to deal。 These objects contrast
much with that which we derive from perception and experience。 “In the summary which Bacon
gives of what he conceives ought to be the objects of philosophical inquiry; are the following; and
we select those which he principally dwells upon in his works: ‘The prolongation of life; the
restitution of youth in some degree; the retardation of old age; and the altering of statures; the
altering of features; versions of bodies into other bodies; making of new species; impression of the
air and raising tempests; greater pleasures of the senses; &c。’” He likewise deals with objects
such as these; and he seeks to direct attention upon whether in their regard the means could not be
found to carry out their ends; in such powers we should be able to make some progress。 “He
complains that such investigations have been neglected by those whom be designates ignavi
regionum exploratores。 In his Natural History he gives formal receipts for making gold; and
performing many wonders。” (10) Bacon thus does not by any means take the intelligent
standpoint of an investigation of nature; being still involved in the grossest superstition; false magic;
&c。 This we find to be on the whole propounded in an intelligent way; and Bacon thus remains
within the conceptions of his time。 “The conversion of silver; quicksilver; or any other metal into
gold is a thing difficult to believe; yet it is far more probable that a man who knows clearly the
natures of weight; of the colour of yellow; of malleability; and extension; of volatility and fixedness;
and who has also made diligent search into the first seeds and menstruums of minerals; may at last
by much and sagacious endeavour produce gold; than that a few grains of an elixir may so do。 。 。 。
So again a man who knows well the nature of rarefaction; of assimilation; and of alimentation; shall
by diets; bathings; and the like prolong life; or in some degree renew the vigour of youth。” (11)
These assertions are thus not as crude as they at first appear。 In dealing with Medicine Bacon
speaks amongst other things of maceration (Malacissatio per exterius) (12) and so forth。
Bacon emphasizes what has reference to the formal aspect of investigation。 For he says; “Natural
philosophy is divided into two parts; the first consists in the investigation of causes; the second in
the production of effects; the causes to be investigated are either final or formal causes; or else
material or efficient causes。 The former constitutes metaphysics; the latter physics。 This last Bacon
looks upon as a branch of philosophy very inferior in point of dignity and importance to the other
and accordingly to ascertain the most probable means of improving our knowledge of metaphysics
is the great object of his Organon。〃 (13) He himself says: “It is a correct position that ‘true
knowledge is knowledge by causes。 And causes; again; are not improperly; distributed into four
kind: the material; the formal; the efficient; and the final。’” (14) (Vol。 I。 p。 174; Vol。 II。 p。 138。)
But in this connection an important point is that Bacon has turned against the teleological
investigation of nature; against the investigation into final causes。 “The investigation of final causes
is useless; they corrupt rather than advance the sciences except such as have to do with human
action。” (15) To Bacon the important matter is to investigate by the study of caus? efficientes。
To the consideration of final causes such assertions as these belong: “That the hairs of the eyelids
are for a protection to the eyes; that the thick skins and hides of living creatures are to defend
them from heat and cold; that the trees have leaves so that the fruit may not suffer from sun and
wind” (16): the hair is on the head on account of warmth; thunder and lightning are the
punishment of God; or else they make fruitful the earth; marmots sleep during the winter because
they can find nothing to eat; snails have a shell in order that they may be secure against attacks; the
bee is provided with a sting。 According to Bacon this has been worked out in innumerable
different ways。 The negative and external side of utility is turned round; and the lack of this
adaptation to end is likewise drawn w