第 48 节
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匆匆 更新:2021-02-27 02:11 字数:9318
the urge outwards that sunders itself and posits tension in its object and in another object in order
to have something with which it can enter into a relation of difference and in which it can neutralise
itself and give to its simple determinateness an existent reality。 Consequently; on the one hand
chemism has returned into its beginning in which objects in a state of reciprocal tension seek one
another and then by a formal; external middle term; unite to form a neutral product。 On the other
hand; chemism by this return into its Notion sublates itself and has passed over into a higher
sphere。
C。 TRANSITION OF CHEMISM
Even ordinary chemistry shows examples of chemical alterations in which a body; for example;
imparts a higher oxidation to one part of its mass and thereby reduces another part to a lower
degree of oxidation; in which lower degree alone it can enter into a neutral combination with
another 'chemically' different body brought into contact with it; a combination for which it would
not have been receptive in that first immediate degree。 What happens here is that the object does
not relate itself to another in accordance with an immediate; one…sided determinateness; but that in
accordance with the inner totality of an original relation it posits the presupposition which it
requires for a real relation and thereby gives itself a middle term through which it unites its Notion
with its reality; it is absolutely determined individuality; the concrete Notion as principle of the
disjunction into extremes whose re…union is the activity of the same negative principle; which
thereby returns to its first determination; but returns objectified。
Chemism itself is the first negation of indifferent objectivity and of the externality of
determinateness; it is therefore still infected with the immediate self…subsistence of the object and
with externality。 Consequently it is not yet for itself that totality of self…determination that proceeds
from it and in which rather it is sublated。 The three syllogisms yielded by the foregoing exposition
constitute its totality; the first has for middle term formal neutrality and for extremes the objects in
tension; the second has for middle term the product of the first; real neutrality; and for extremes
the sundering activity and its product; the indifferent element; while the third is the self…realising
Notion; which posits for itself the presupposition by which the process of its realisation is
conditioned — a syllogism that has the universal for its essence。 On account; however; of the
immediacy and externality attaching to chemical objectivity; these syllogisms still fall apart。 The
first process whose product is the neutrality of the objects in tension is extinguished in its product;
and it is an externally applied differentiation that re…kindles it; conditioned by an immediate
presupposition; it exhausts itself in it。 Similarly; the separation of the 'chemically' different extremes
out of the neutral product; as also their decomposition into their abstract elements; must proceed
from conditions and stimulations of activity externally brought into play。 Also; although the two
essential moments of the process; on the one side neutralisation; on the other separation and
reduction; are combined in one and the same process; and the union of the extremes by
weakening of the tension between them is also a sundering into such extremes; yet on account of
the still underlying externality they constitute two different sides; the extremes that are separated
in that same process are different objects or materials from those that unite in it; in so far as the
former emerge again from the process as 'chemically' different they must turn outwards; their new
neutralisation is a different process from the neutralisation that took place in the first process。
But these various processes; which have proved themselves necessary; are so many stages by
which externality and conditionedness are sublated and from which the Notion emerges as a
totality determined in and for itself and not conditioned by externality。 In the first process; the
mutual externality of the different extremes that constitute the whole reality; or the distinction
between the implicitly determinate Notion and its existent determinateness; is sublated; in the
second; the externality of the real unity; the union as merely neutral; is sublated; more precisely;
the formal activity in the first instance sublates itself in equally formal bases or indifferent
determinatenesses; whose inner Notion is now the indrawn absolute activity as inwardly
self…realising; that is; the activity that posits the determinate differences within itself and through this
mediation constitutes itself as real unity — a mediation which is thus the Notion's own mediation; its
self…determination; and in respect of its reflection thence into itself; an immanent presupposing。
The third syllogism; which on the one hand is the restoration of the preceding processes; on the
other hand sublates the last remaining moment of indifferent bases the wholly abstract external
immediacy; which in this way becomes the Notion's own moment of self…mediation。 The Notion
which has thus sublated all the moments of its objective existence as external; and posited them
within its simple unity; is thereby completely liberated from objective externality; to which it relates
itself only as to an unessential reality。 This objective free Notion is end。
THE DOCTRINE OF THE NOTION
Section Two: Objectivity; continued
Chapter 3 Teleology
Subjective End … The Means … The Realised End
Where purposiveness is discerned; an intelligence 'Verstand' is assumed as its author; and for
the end we therefore demand the Notion's own free Existence。 Teleology is especially contrasted
with mechanism; in which the determinateness posited in the object; being external; is essentially
one in which no self…determination is manifested。 The opposition between causae efficientes
and causae finalis; between merely efficient and final causes; relates to this distinction; and this
distinction; taken in a concrete form; is also made the criterion for deciding whether the absolute
essence of the world is to be conceived as blind natural mechanism or as an intelligence that
determines itself in accordance with ends。 The antinomy between fatalism; along with
determinism and freedom; is likewise concerned with the opposition of mechanism and
teleology; for the free is the Notion in its Existence。
Earlier metaphysics has treated these concepts as it has treated others; it has for one thing
presupposed a certain conception of the world and laboured to show that one or the other
concept fitted it; while the opposite one was defective because it failed to explain that conception;
and again; while doing this; it has not examined the concept of mechanical cause and of end; to see
which possesses truth in and for itself。 When this has been established independently; the
objective world may present us with mechanical and final causes; but their existence is not the
standard of truth: on the contrary; truth is the criterion that decides which of these existences is
the true one。 just as the subjective understanding also exhibits errors in itself; so the objective
world also exhibits aspects and stages of truth that by themselves are still one…sided; incomplete
and only relationships in the sphere of Appearance。 If mechanism and purposiveness stand
opposed to one another; they cannot for that very reason be taken as indifferent concepts; each
of which is correct on its own account; possessing as much validity as the other; the only question
being where one or the other may be applied。 This equal validity of both rests merely on the fact
that they are; that is to say; that we have them both。 But since they are opposed; the necessary
preliminary question is; which of the two is the true one; and the higher and real question is;
whether their truth is not a third concept; or whether one of them is the truth of the other。
But the relation of end has proved to be the truth of mechanism — what exhibited itself as
chemism is included with mechanism in so far as end is the Notion in free Existence; and to end
stands opposed in general the unfreedom of the Notion; its submergence in externality; both of
them; therefore; mechanism and chemism; are included under natural necessity; for in the former
the Notion does not exist in the object。 Since the object as mechanical does not contain
self…determination; while in chemism the Notion either has a one…sided Existence in a state of
tension; or; in emerging as the unity that disjoins the neutral object into tensed extremes; is external
to itself in so far as it sublates this disjunction。
The more the teleological principle was linked with the concept of an extramundane intelligence
and to that extent was favoured by piety; the more it seemed to depart from the true investigation
of nature; which aims at cognising the properties of nature not as extraneous; but as immanent
determinatenesses and accepts only such cognition as a valid comprehension。 As end is the
Notion itself