第 8 节
作者:
莫再讲 更新:2021-02-20 15:52 字数:9322
action interests me; in the second the object of the action (because
it is pleasant to me)。 We have seen in the first section that in an
action done from duty we must look not to the interest in the
object; but only to that in the action itself; and in its rational
principle (viz。; the law)。
A perfectly good will would therefore be equally subject to
objective laws (viz。; laws of good); but could not be conceived as
obliged thereby to act lawfully; because of itself from its subjective
constitution it can only be determined by the conception of good。
Therefore no imperatives hold for the Divine will; or in general for a
holy will; ought is here out of place; because the volition is already
of itself necessarily in unison with the law。 Therefore imperatives
are only formulae to express the relation of objective laws of all
volition to the subjective imperfection of the will of this or that
rational being; e。g。; the human will。
Now all imperatives command either hypothetically or
categorically。 The former represent the practical necessity of a
possible action as means to something else that is willed (or at least
which one might possibly will)。 The categorical imperative would be
that which represented an action as necessary of itself without
reference to another end; i。e。; as objectively necessary。
Since every practical law represents a possible action as good
and; on this account; for a subject who is practically determinable by
reason; necessary; all imperatives are formulae determining an
action which is necessary according to the principle of a will good in
some respects。 If now the action is good only as a means to
something else; then the imperative is hypothetical; if it is
conceived as good in itself and consequently as being necessarily
the principle of a will which of itself conforms to reason; then it is
categorical。
Thus the imperative declares what action possible by me would be
good and presents the practical rule in relation to a will which
does not forthwith perform an action simply because it is good;
whether because the subject does not always know that it is good; or
because; even if it know this; yet its maxims might be opposed to
the objective principles of practical reason。
Accordingly the hypothetical imperative only says that the action is
good for some purpose; possible or actual。 In the first case it is a
problematical; in the second an assertorial practical principle。 The
categorical imperative which declares an action to be objectively
necessary in itself without reference to any purpose; i。e。; without
any other end; is valid as an apodeictic (practical) principle。
Whatever is possible only by the power of some rational being may
also be conceived as a possible purpose of some will; and therefore
the principles of action as regards the means necessary to attain some
possible purpose are in fact infinitely numerous。 All sciences have
a practical part; consisting of problems expressing that some end is
possible for us and of imperatives directing how it may be attained。
These may; therefore; be called in general imperatives of skill。
Here there is no question whether the end is rational and good; but
only what one must do in order to attain it。 The precepts for the
physician to make his patient thoroughly healthy; and for a poisoner
to ensure certain death; are of equal value in this respect; that each
serves to effect its purpose perfectly。 Since in early youth it cannot
be known what ends are likely to occur to us in the course of life;
parents seek to have their children taught a great many things; and
provide for their skill in the use of means for all sorts of arbitrary
ends; of none of which can they determine whether it may not perhaps
hereafter be an object to their pupil; but which it is at all events
possible that he might aim at; and this anxiety is so great that
they commonly neglect to form and correct their judgement on the value
of the things which may be chosen as ends。
There is one end; however; which may be assumed to be actually
such to all rational beings (so far as imperatives apply to them;
viz。; as dependent beings); and; therefore; one purpose which they not
merely may have; but which we may with certainty assume that they
all actually have by a natural necessity; and this is happiness。 The
hypothetical imperative which expresses the practical necessity of
an action as means to the advancement of happiness is assertorial。
We are not to present it as necessary for an uncertain and merely
possible purpose; but for a purpose which we may presuppose with
certainty and a priori in every man; because it belongs to his
being。 Now skill in the choice of means to his own greatest well…being
may be called prudence;* in the narrowest sense。 And thus the
imperative which refers to the choice of means to one's own happiness;
i。e。; the precept of prudence; is still always hypothetical; the
action is not commanded absolutely; but only as means to another
purpose。
*The word prudence is taken in two senses: in the one it may bear
the name of knowledge of the world; in the other that of private
prudence。 The former is a man's ability to influence others so as to
use them for his own purposes。 The latter is the sagacity to combine
all these purposes for his own lasting benefit。 This latter is
properly that to which the value even of the former is reduced; and
when a man is prudent in the former sense; but not in the latter; we
might better say of him that he is clever and cunning; but; on the
whole; imprudent。
Finally; there is an imperative which commands a certain conduct
immediately; without having as its condition any other purpose to be
attained by it。 This imperative is categorical。 It concerns not the
matter of the action; or its intended result; but its form and the
principle of which it is itself a result; and what is essentially good
in it consists in the mental disposition; let the consequence be
what it may。 This imperative may be called that of morality。
There is a marked distinction also between the volitions on these
three sorts of principles in the dissimilarity of the obligation of
the will。 In order to mark this difference more clearly; I think
they would be most suitably named in their order if we said they are
either rules of skill; or counsels of prudence; or commands (laws)
of morality。 For it is law only that involves the conception of an
unconditional and objective necessity; which is consequently
universally valid; and commands are laws which must be obeyed; that
is; must be followed; even in opposition to inclination。 Counsels;
indeed; involve necessity; but one which can only hold under a
contingent subjective condition; viz。; they depend on whether this
or that man reckons this or that as part of his happiness; the
categorical imperative; on the contrary; is not limited by any
condition; and as being absolutely; although practically; necessary;
may be quite properly called a command。 We might also call the first
kind of imperatives technical (belonging to art); the second
pragmatic* (to welfare); the third moral (belonging to free conduct
generally; that is; to morals)。
*It seems to me that the proper signification of the word
pragmatic may be most accurately defined in this way。 For sanctions
are called pragmatic which flow properly not from the law of the
states as necessary enactments; but from precaution for the general
welfare。 A history is composed pragmatically when it teaches prudence;
i。e。; instructs the world how it can provide for its interests better;
or at least as well as; the men of former time。
Now arises the question; how are all these imperatives possible?
This question does not seek to know how we can conceive the
accomplishment of the action which the imperative ordains; but
merely how we can conceive the obligation of the will which the
imperative expresses。 No special explanation is needed to show how
an imperative of skill is possible。 Whoever wills the end; wills
also (so far as reason decides his conduct) the means in his power
which are indispensably necessary thereto。 This proposition is; as
regards the volition; analytical; for; in willing an object as my
effect; there is already thought the causality of myself as an
acting cause; that is to say; the use of the means; and the imperative
educes from the conception of volition of an end the conception of
actions necessary to this end。 Synthetical propositions must no
doubt be employed in defining the means to a proposed end; but they do
not concern the principle; the act of the will; but the object and its
realization。 E。g。; that in order to bisect a line on an unerring
principle I must draw from its extremities two intersecting arcs; this
no doubt is taught by mathematics only in synthetical propositions;
but if I know that it is only by this process that t