第 67 节
作者:桃桃逃      更新:2022-08-21 16:33      字数:9314
  form which it has in consciousness as a mode of mere mental representation。 By
  means of the notion of Inner Design Kant has resuscitated the Idea in general
  and particularly the idea of life。 Aristotle's definition of life virtually implies inner
  design; and is thus far in advance of the notion of design in modern Teleology;
  which had in view finite and outward design only。
  Animal wants and appetites are some of the readiest instances of the End。 They
  are the felt contradiction; which exists within the living subject; and pass into the
  activity of negating this negation which mere subjectivity still is。 The satisfaction
  of the want or appetite restores the peace between subject and object。 The
  objective thing which; so long as the contradiction exists; i。e。 so long as the want
  is felt; stands on the other side; loses this quasi…independence; by its union with
  the subject。 Those who talk of the permanence and immutability of the finite; as
  well subjective as objective; may see the reverse illustrated in the operations of
  every appetite。 Appetite is; so to speak; the conviction that the subjective is only a
  half…truth; no more adequate than the objective。 But appetite in the second place
  carries out its conviction。 It brings about the supersession of these finites: it
  cancels the antithesis between the objective which would be and stay an objective
  only; and the subjective which in like manner would be and stay a subjective
  only。
  As regards the action of the End; attention may be called to the fact; that in the
  syllogism; which represents that action; and shows the end closing with itself by
  the means of realisation; the radical feature is the negation of the termini That
  negation is the one just mentioned both of the immediate subjectivity appearing in
  the End as such; and of the immediate objectivity as seen in the means and the
  objects presupposed。 This is the same negation as is in operation when the mind
  leaves the contingent things of the world as well as its own subjectivity and rises
  to God。 It is the 'moment' or factor which (as noticed in the Introduction and §
  192) was overlooked and neglected in the analytic form of syllogisms; under
  which the so…called proofs of the Being of a God presented this elevation。
  § 205
  In its primary and immediate aspect the Teleological relation is external design;
  and the notion confronts a presupposed object。 The End is consequently finite;
  and that partly in its content; partly in the circumstance that it has an external
  condition in the object; which has to be found existing; and which is taken as
  material for its realisation。 Its self…determining is to that extent in form only。 The
  unmediatedness of the End has the further result that its particularity or content …
  which as form…characteristic is the subjectivity of the End … is reflected into self;
  and so different from the totality of the form; subjectivity in general; the notion。
  This variety constitutes the finitude of Design within its own nature。 The content
  of the End; in this way; is quite as limited; contingent; and given; as the object is
  particular and found ready to hand。
  § 205n
  Generally speaking; the final cause is taken to mean nothing more than external design。 In
  accordance with this view of it; things are supposed not to carry their vocation in themselves; but
  merely to be means employed and spent in realising a purpose which lies outside of them。 That
  may be said to be the point of view taken by Utility; which once played a great part even in the
  sciences; but of late has fallen into merited disrepute; now that people have begun to see that it
  failed to give a genuine insight into the nature of things。 It is true that finite things as finite ought in
  justice to be viewed as non…ultimate; and as pointing beyond themselves。 This negativity of finite
  things however is their own dialectic; and in order to ascertain it we must pay attention to their
  positive content。
  Teleological observations on things often proceed from a well…meant wish to display the wisdom
  of God as it is especially revealed in nature。 Now in thus trying to discover final causes for which
  the things serve as means; we must remember that we are stopping short at the finite; and are
  liable to fall into trifling reflections: as; for instance; if we not merely studied the vine in respect of
  its well…known use for man; but proceeded to consider the cork…tree in connection with the corks
  which are cut from its bark to put into the wine…bottles。 Whole books used to be written in this
  spirit。 It is easy to see that they promoted the genuine interest neither of religion nor of science。
  External design stands immediately in front of the idea: but what thus stands on the threshold often
  for that reason is least adequate。
  § 206
  The teleological relation is a syllogism in which the subjective end coalesces with
  the objectivity external to it; through a middle term which is the unity of both。
  This unity is on one hand the purposive action; on the other the Means; i。e。
  objectivity made directly subservient to purpose。
  § 206n
  The development from End to Idea ensues by three stages; first; Subjective End; second; End in
  process of accomplishment; and third; End accomplished。 First of all we have the Subjective End;
  and that; as the notion in independent being; is itself the totality of the elementary functions of the
  notion。 The first of these functions is that of self…identical universality; as it were the neutral first
  water; in which everything is involved; but nothing as yet discriminated。 The second of these
  elements is the particularising of this universal; by which it acquires a specific content。 As this
  specific content again is realised by the agency of the universal; the latter returns by its means back
  to itself; and coalesces with itself。 Hence too when we set some end before us; we say that we
  'conclude' to do something: a phrase which implies that we were; so to speak; open and
  accessible to this or that determination。 Similarly we also at a further step speak of a man
  'resolving' to do something; meaning that the agent steps forward out of his self…regarding
  inwardness and enters into dealings with the environing objectivity。 This supplies the step from the
  merely Subjective End to the purposive action which tends outwards。
  § 207
  (1) The first syllogism of the final cause represents the Subjective End。 The
  universal notion is brought to unite with individuality by means of particularity; so
  that the individual as self…determination acts as judge。 That is to say; it not only
  particularises or makes into a determinate content the still indeterminate universal;
  but also explicitly puts an antithesis of subjectivity and objectivity; and at the
  same time is in its own self a return to itself; for it stamps the subjectivity of the
  notion; presupposed as against objectivity; with the mark of defect; in comparison
  with the complete and rounded totality; and thereby at the same time turns
  outwards。
  § 208
  (2) This action which is directed outwards is the individuality; which in the
  Subjective End is identical with the particularity under which; along with the
  content; is also comprised the external objectivity。 It throws itself in the first place
  immediately upon the object; which it appropriates to itself as a Means。 The
  notion is this immediate power; for the notion is the self…identical negativity; in
  which the being of the object is characterised as wholly and merely ideal。 The
  whole Middle Term is this inward power of the notion; in the shape of an agency;
  with which the object as Means is immediately united and in obedience to which
  it stands。
  In finite teleology the Middle Term is broken up into two elements external to
  each other; (a) the action and (b) the object which serves as Means。 The relation
  of the final cause as power to this object; and the subjugation of the object to it;
  is immediate (it forms the first premise in the syllogism) to this extent; that in the
  teleological notion as the self…existent ideality the object is put as potentially null。
  This relation; as represented in the first premise; itself becomes the Middle Term;
  which at the same time involves the syllogism; that through this relation…in which
  the action of the End is contained and dominant…the End is coupled with
  objectivity。
  § 208n
  The execution of the End is the mediated mode of realising the End; but the immediate realisation
  is not less needful。 The End lays hold of the object immediately; because it is the power over the
  object; because in the End particularity; and in particularity objectivity also; is involved。 A living
  being has a body; the soul takes possession of it and without intermediary has objectified itself in
  it。 The human soul has much to do; before it makes its corporeal nature into a means。 Man must;
  as it were; take possession of his body; so that it may