第 35 节
作者: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