第 50 节
作者:京文      更新:2021-02-19 21:41      字数:9297
  27。 Cartes。 Principia philosophi?。 P。 I。 § 49; p。 13 (p。 93)。
  28。 Ibid。 P。 I。 § 48; p。 12 (p。 92)。
  29。 Cartes。 Princip。 philosophi?; P。 I。 § 51; p。 14 (p。 95)。
  30。 Cartes。 Principia philosophi?; P。 I。 § 53; 54; p。 14 (pp。 96; 97)。
  31。 Cartes。 Princip。 philos。; P。 I。 § 66…74; pp。 19…22 (pp。 107…117); P。 II § 4; p。 25 (pp。
  123;124)。
  32。 Cartes。 Prineipia philos。 P。 II。 § 16; 20; 37; 38; pp。 29…31; 38; 39 (pp。 133; 134; 137; 138;
  152…154)。
  33。 Cartes。 Princip。 philos。; P。 I。 § 66…74; pp。 19…22 (pp。 107…117); P。 II § 4; p。 25 (pp。
  123;124)。
  34。 Cf。 Cartes。 Principia philos。; P。 II。 § 64; p。 49 (pp。 178; 179)。
  35。 Cartes。 Principia philos。; P。 III。 § 5…42; 46 sqq。 pp。 51…63; 65 sqq。 (pp。 183…208; p。 210 et
  suiv。); P。 IV。 § 1 sqq。; 69; 109…115; p。 137 sqq。; 116; 178…180 (p。 330 et suiv。; 388;
  420…425)。
  36。 Cartes。 Principia philosoph。; P。 I。 § 37; 39…41; pp。 10; 11 (pp。 85…88)。
  37。 Cartes。 De Methodo。 V。 pp。 35; 36 (pp。 185…189)。
  38。 Cartes。 De Methodo。 V。 p。 29 (173; 174)。
  Section Two: Period of the Thinking Understanding
  Chapter I。 — The Metaphysics of the Understanding
  A 2。 SPINOZA
  The philosophy of Descartes underwent a great variety of unspeculative developments; but in
  Benedict Spinoza a direct successor to this philosopher may be found; and one who carried on the
  Cartesian principle to its furthest logical conclusions。 For him soul and body; thought and Being;
  cease to have separate independent existence。 The dualism of the Cartesian system Spinoza; as a
  Jew; altogether set aside。 For the profound unity of his philosophy as it found expression in
  Europe; his manifestation of Spirit as the identity of the finite and the infinite in God; instead of
  God's appearing related to these as a Third — all this is an echo from Eastern lands。 The Oriental
  theory of absolute identity was brought by Spinoza much more directly into line; firstly with the
  current of European thought; and then with the European and Cartesian philosophy; in which it
  soon found a place。
  First of all we must; however; glance at the circumstances of Spinoza's life。 He was by descent a
  Portuguese Jew; and was born at Amsterdam in the year 1632; the name he received was Baruch;
  but he altered it to Benedict。 In his youth he was instructed by the Rabbis of the synagogue to
  which he belonged; but he soon fell out with them; their wrath having been kindled by the
  criticisms which he passed on the fantastic doctrines of the Talmud。 He was not; therefore; long in
  absenting himself from the synagogue; and as the Rabbis were in dread lest his example should
  have evil consequences; they offered him a yearly allowance of a thousand gulden if he would
  keep away from the place and hold his tongue。 This offer he declined; and the Rabbis thereafter
  carried their persecution of him to such a pitch that they were even minded to rid themselves of
  him by assassination。 After having made a narrow escape from the dagger; he formally withdrew
  from the Jewish communion; without; however; going over to the Christian Church。 He now
  applied himself particularly to the Latin language; and made a special study of the Cartesian
  philosophy。 Later on he went to Rhynsburg; near Leyden; and from the year 1664 he lived in
  retirement; first at Voorburg; a village near the Hague; and then at the Hague itself; highly
  respected by numerous friends: he gained a livelihood for himself by grinding optical glasses。 It
  was no arbitrary choice that led him to occupy himself with light; for it represents in the material
  sphere the absolute identity which forms the foundation of the Oriental view of things。 Although he
  had rich friends and mighty protectors; among whom even generals were numbered; he lived in
  humble poverty; declining the handsome gifts offered to him time after time。 Nor would he permit
  Simon von Vries to make him his heir; he only accepted from him an annual pension of three
  hundred florins; in the same way he gave up to his sisters his share of their father's estate。 From the
  Elector Palatine; Carl Ludwig; a man of most noble character and raised above the prejudices of
  his time; he received the offer of a professor's chair at Heidelberg; with the assurance that he
  would have liberty to teach and to write; because “the Prince believed he would not put that
  liberty to a bad use by interfering with the religion publicly established。” Spinoza (in his published
  letters) very wisely declined this offer; however; because “he did not know within what limits that
  philosophic liberty would have to be confined; in order that he might not appear to be interfering
  with the publicly established religion。” He remained in Holland; a country highly interesting in the
  history of general culture; as it was the first in Europe to show the; example of universal toleration;
  and afforded to many a place of refuge where they might enjoy liberty of thought; for fierce as was
  the rage of the theologians there against Bekker; for example (Bruck。 Hist。 crit。 phil。 T。 IV。 P。 2;
  pp。 719; 720); and furious as were the attacks of Voetius on the Cartesian philosophy; these had
  not the consequences which they would have had in another land。 Spinoza died on the 21st of
  February; 1677; in the forty…fourth year of his age。 The cause of his death was consumption; from
  which he had long been a sufferer; this was in harmony with his system of philosophy; according to
  which all particularity and individuality pass away in the one substance。 A Protestant divine;
  Colerus by name; who published a biography of Spinoza; inveighs strongly against him; it is true;
  but gives nevertheless a most minute and kindly description of his circumstances and surroundings
  — telling how he left only about two hundred thalers; what debts he had; and so on。 A bill included
  in the inventory; in which the barber requests payment due him by M。 Spinoza of blessed memory;
  scandalizes the parson very much; and regarding it he makes the observation: “Had the barber but
  known what sort of a creature Spinoza was; he certainly would not have spoken of his blessed
  memory。” The German translator of this biography writes under the portrait of Spinoza:
  characterem reprobationis in vultu gerens; applying this description to a countenance which
  doubtless expresses the melancholy of a profound thinker; but is otherwise wild and benevolent。
  The reprobatio is certainly correct; but it is not a reprobation in the passive sense; it is an active
  disapprobation on Spinoza's part of the opinions; errors and thoughtless passions of mankind。(1)
  Spinoza used the terminology of Descartes; and also published an account of his system。 For we
  find the first of Spinoza's works entitled “An Exposition according to the geometrical method of
  the principles of the Cartesian philosophy。” Some time after this he wrote his Tractatus
  theologico…politicus; and by it gained considerable reputation。 Great as was the hatred which
  Spinoza roused amongst his Rabbis; it was more than equalled by the odium which he brought
  upon himself amongst Christian; and especially amongst Protestant theologians — chiefly through
  the medium of this essay。 It contains his views on inspiration; a critical treatment of the books of
  Moses and the like chiefly from the point of view that the laws therein contained are limited in their
  application to the Jews。 Later Christian theologians have written critically on this subject; usually
  making it their object to show that these books were compiled at a later time; and that they date in
  part from a period subsequent to the Babylonian captivity; this has become a crucial point with
  Protestant theologians; and one by which the modern school distinguishes itself from the older;
  greatly pluming itself thereon。 All this; however; is already to be found in the above…mentioned
  work of Spinoza。 But Spinoza drew the greatest odium upon himself by his philosophy proper;
  which we must now consider as it is given to us in his Ethics。 While Descartes published no
  writings on this subject; the Ethics of Spinoza is undoubtedly his greatest work; it was published
  after his death by Ludwig Mayer; a physician; who had been Spinoza's most intimate friend。 It
  consists of five parts; the first deals with God (De Deo)。 General metaphysical ideas are contained
  in it; which include the knowledge of God and nature。 The second part deals with the nature and
  origin of mind (De natura et origine mentis)。 We see thus that Spinoza does not treat of the
  subject of natural philosophy; extension and motion at all; for he passes immediately from God to
  the philosophy of mind; to the ethical point of view; and what refers to knowledge; intelligent mind;
  is brought forward in the first part; under the head of the principles of human knowledge。 The third
  book of the Ethics deals with the origin and nature of the passions (De oriqine et natura
  affectuum); the fourth with the powers of the same; or human slavery (De servitute humana seu
  de affectuum viribus); the fifth; lastly; with the power of the understanding; with thought; or with
  human liberty (De potentia intellectus seu de libertate humana)。 (2) Kirchenrath Professor
  Paulus pub