第 5 节
作者:独来读网      更新:2021-02-25 00:21      字数:9320
  it cannot be proved by geometry that opposites fall under one science;
  nor even that the product of two cubes is a cube。 Nor can the
  theorem of any one science be demonstrated by means of another
  science; unless these theorems are related as subordinate to
  superior (e。g。 as optical theorems to geometry or harmonic theorems to
  arithmetic)。 Geometry again cannot prove of lines any property which
  they do not possess qua lines; i。e。 in virtue of the fundamental
  truths of their peculiar genus: it cannot show; for example; that
  the straight line is the most beautiful of lines or the contrary of
  the circle; for these qualities do not belong to lines in virtue of
  their peculiar genus; but through some property which it shares with
  other genera。
  8
  It is also clear that if the premisses from which the syllogism
  proceeds are commensurately universal; the conclusion of such i。e。
  in the unqualified sense…must also be eternal。 Therefore no
  attribute can be demonstrated nor known by strictly scientific
  knowledge to inhere in perishable things。 The proof can only be
  accidental; because the attribute's connexion with its perishable
  subject is not commensurately universal but temporary and special。
  If such a demonstration is made; one premiss must be perishable and
  not commensurately universal (perishable because only if it is
  perishable will the conclusion be perishable; not commensurately
  universal; because the predicate will be predicable of some
  instances of the subject and not of others); so that the conclusion
  can only be that a fact is true at the moment…not commensurately and
  universally。 The same is true of definitions; since a definition is
  either a primary premiss or a conclusion of a demonstration; or else
  only differs from a demonstration in the order of its terms。
  Demonstration and science of merely frequent occurrences…e。g。 of
  eclipse as happening to the moon…are; as such; clearly eternal:
  whereas so far as they are not eternal they are not fully
  commensurate。 Other subjects too have properties attaching to them
  in the same way as eclipse attaches to the moon。
  9
  It is clear that if the conclusion is to show an attribute
  inhering as such; nothing can be demonstrated except from its
  'appropriate' basic truths。 Consequently a proof even from true;
  indemonstrable; and immediate premisses does not constitute knowledge。
  Such proofs are like Bryson's method of squaring the circle; for
  they operate by taking as their middle a common character…a character;
  therefore; which the subject may share with another…and consequently
  they apply equally to subjects different in kind。 They therefore
  afford knowledge of an attribute only as inhering accidentally; not as
  belonging to its subject as such: otherwise they would not have been
  applicable to another genus。
  Our knowledge of any attribute's connexion with a subject is
  accidental unless we know that connexion through the middle term in
  virtue of which it inheres; and as an inference from basic premisses
  essential and 'appropriate' to the subject…unless we know; e。g。 the
  property of possessing angles equal to two right angles as belonging
  to that subject in which it inheres essentially; and as inferred
  from basic premisses essential and 'appropriate' to that subject: so
  that if that middle term also belongs essentially to the minor; the
  middle must belong to the same kind as the major and minor terms。
  The only exceptions to this rule are such cases as theorems in
  harmonics which are demonstrable by arithmetic。 Such theorems are
  proved by the same middle terms as arithmetical properties; but with a
  qualification…the fact falls under a separate science (for the subject
  genus is separate); but the reasoned fact concerns the superior
  science; to which the attributes essentially belong。 Thus; even
  these apparent exceptions show that no attribute is strictly
  demonstrable except from its 'appropriate' basic truths; which;
  however; in the case of these sciences have the requisite identity
  of character。
  It is no less evident that the peculiar basic truths of each
  inhering attribute are indemonstrable; for basic truths from which
  they might be deduced would be basic truths of all that is; and the
  science to which they belonged would possess universal sovereignty。
  This is so because he knows better whose knowledge is deduced from
  higher causes; for his knowledge is from prior premisses when it
  derives from causes themselves uncaused: hence; if he knows better
  than others or best of all; his knowledge would be science in a higher
  or the highest degree。 But; as things are; demonstration is not
  transferable to another genus; with such exceptions as we have
  mentioned of the application of geometrical demonstrations to theorems
  in mechanics or optics; or of arithmetical demonstrations to those
  of harmonics。
  It is hard to be sure whether one knows or not; for it is hard to be
  sure whether one's knowledge is based on the basic truths
  appropriate to each attribute…the differentia of true knowledge。 We
  think we have scientific knowledge if we have reasoned from true and
  primary premisses。 But that is not so: the conclusion must be
  homogeneous with the basic facts of the science。
  10
  I call the basic truths of every genus those clements in it the
  existence of which cannot be proved。 As regards both these primary
  truths and the attributes dependent on them the meaning of the name is
  assumed。 The fact of their existence as regards the primary truths
  must be assumed; but it has to be proved of the remainder; the
  attributes。 Thus we assume the meaning alike of unity; straight; and
  triangular; but while as regards unity and magnitude we assume also
  the fact of their existence; in the case of the remainder proof is
  required。
  Of the basic truths used in the demonstrative sciences some are
  peculiar to each science; and some are common; but common only in
  the sense of analogous; being of use only in so far as they fall
  within the genus constituting the province of the science in question。
  Peculiar truths are; e。g。 the definitions of line and straight;
  common truths are such as 'take equals from equals and equals remain'。
  Only so much of these common truths is required as falls within the
  genus in question: for a truth of this kind will have the same force
  even if not used generally but applied by the geometer only to
  magnitudes; or by the arithmetician only to numbers。 Also peculiar
  to a science are the subjects the existence as well as the meaning
  of which it assumes; and the essential attributes of which it
  investigates; e。g。 in arithmetic units; in geometry points and
  lines。 Both the existence and the meaning of the subjects are
  assumed by these sciences; but of their essential attributes only
  the meaning is assumed。 For example arithmetic assumes the meaning
  of odd and even; square and cube; geometry that of incommensurable; or
  of deflection or verging of lines; whereas the existence of these
  attributes is demonstrated by means of the axioms and from previous
  conclusions as premisses。 Astronomy too proceeds in the same way。
  For indeed every demonstrative science has three elements: (1) that
  which it posits; the subject genus whose essential attributes it
  examines; (2) the so…called axioms; which are primary premisses of its
  demonstration; (3) the attributes; the meaning of which it assumes。
  Yet some sciences may very well pass over some of these elements; e。g。
  we might not expressly posit the existence of the genus if its
  existence were obvious (for instance; the existence of hot and cold is
  more evident than that of number); or we might omit to assume
  expressly the meaning of the attributes if it were well understood。 In
  the way the meaning of axioms; such as 'Take equals from equals and
  equals remain'; is well known and so not expressly assumed。
  Nevertheless in the nature of the case the essential elements of
  demonstration are three: the subject; the attributes; and the basic
  premisses。
  That which expresses necessary self…grounded fact; and which we must
  necessarily believe; is distinct both from the hypotheses of a science
  and from illegitimate postulate…I say 'must believe'; because all
  syllogism; and therefore a fortiori demonstration; is addressed not to