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第103章

history of philosophy-第103章

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indeterminate; and further; that ego and non…ego are absolutely opposed to one another; in the one
case ego is the indeterminate and in the other case non…ego。” (21)

Inasmuch as the ego here makes the object its conception and negates it; this philosophy is
Idealism; in which philosophy all the determinations of the object are ideal。 Everything determinate
which the ego possesses it has through its own positing; I even make a coat or a boot because I
put them on。 There remains only the empty repulsive force; and that is the Kantian Thing…in…itself;
beyond which even Fichte cannot get; even though the theoretic reason continues its determination
into infinitude。 “The ego as intelligence” ever “remains dependent on an undetermined non…ego; it
is only through this that it is intelligence。” (22) The theoretic side is thus dependent。 In it we have
not therefore to deal with the truth in and for itself but with a contingent; because ego is limited; not
absolute; as its Notion demands: intelligence is not here considered as spirit which is free。 This is
Fichte's standpoint as regards the theoretic side。

c。 Practical reason comes next; the point of view from which it starts is that “The ego posits itself
as determining the non…ego。” Now the contradiction has thus to be solved of ego being at home
with itself; since it determines its Beyond。 The ego is thus infinite activity; and; as ego=ego; the
absolute ego; it is undoubtedly abstract。 But in order to have a determination; a non…ego must
exist; ego is thus activity; causality; the positing of the non…ego。 But as with Kant sensuousness and
reason remain opposed; the same contradiction is present here; only in a more abstract form; and
not in the rude empiricism of Kant。 Fichte here turns and twists in all sorts of ways; or he gives the
opposition many different forms; the crudest form is that ego is posited as causality; for in it
another is necessitated on which it exercises its activity。 “The absolute ego has accordingly to be”
now “the cause of the non…ego; i。e。 only of that in the non…ego which remains when we abstract
from all demonstrable forms of representation or conception — of that to which is ascribed the
check given to the infinitely operative activity of the ego; for the fact that the intelligent ego is; in
accordance with the necessary laws of the conception; the cause of the particular determinations
of that which is conceived as such; is demonstrated in the theoretic science of knowledge。” (23)
The limits of intelligence must be broken through; the ego must alone be active; the other side; the
infinite repulsion; must be removed; in order that the ego may be liberated。

“According to our hypothesis the ego must now posit a non…ego absolutely; and without any
ground; i。e。 absolutely and without any ground it must limit or in part not posit itself。” This;
indeed; it already does as intelligent。 “It must therefore have the ground of not positing itself”
only “in itself。” The ego is; however; just the ego; it posits itself; “it must” therefore “have the
principle of positing itself within it; and also the principle of not positing itself。 Hence the ego in its
essence would be contradictory and self…repellent; there would be in it a twofold or contradictory
principle; which assumption contradicts itself; for in that case there would be no principle within it。
The ego would” consequently “not exist; for it would abrogate itself。 All contradictions are
reconciled through the further determination of contradictory propositions。 The ego must be
posited in one sense as infinite; and in another as finite。 Were it to be posited as infinite and finite in
one and the same sense; the contradiction would be insoluble; the ego would not be one but two。
In so far as the ego posits itself as infinite; its activity is directed upon itself and on nothing else but
itself。 In so far as the ego posits limits; and itself in these limits; its activity is not exercised directly
on itself; but on a non…ego which has to be placed in opposition;” upon another and again upon
another; and so on into infinitude; that is the object; and the activity of the ego “is objective
activity。” (24) In this way Fichte in the practical sphere also remains at opposition; only this
opposition now has the form of two tendencies in the ego; both of which are said to be one and
the same activity of the ego。 I am called upon to proceed to determine the other in relation to
which I am negative; the non…ego; in accordance with my freedom it has indeed all determinations
through the activity of the ego; but beyond my determination the same non…ego ever continues to
appear。 The ego clearly posits an object; a point of limitation; but where the limitation is; is
undetermined。 I may transfer the sphere of my determination; and extend it to an infinite degree;
but there always remains a pure Beyond; and the non…ego has no positive self…existent
determination。

The last point in respect of the practical sphere is hence this; that the activity of the ego is a
yearning or striving(25) — like the Kantian “ought” ; Fichte treats this with great prolixity。 The
Fichtian philosophy consequently has the same standpoint as the Kantian; the ultimate is always
subjectivity; as existent in and for itself。 Yearning; according to Fichte; is divine; in yearning I have
not forgotten myself; I have not forgotten that I possess a superiority in myself; and therefore it is a
condition of happiness and satisfaction。 This infinite yearning and desire has then been regarded as
what is highest and most excellent in the Beautiful; and in religious feelings likewise; and with it is
connected the irony of which we have spoken before (Vol。 I。 pp。 400; 401)。 In this return the ego
is merely an effort; on its side it is fixed; and it cannot realize its endeavours。 Striving is thus an
imperfect or implicitly limited action。 The ultimate result is consequently a “circle” which cannot
be broken through; so that “the finite spirit must necessarily posit an absolute outside itself (a
thing…in…itself); and yet on the other hand it must recognize that this same is only there for it (a
necessary noumenon)。” (26) To put it otherwise; we see the ego absolutely determined in
opposition only; we see it only as consciousness and self…consciousness which does not got
beyond this; and which does not reach so far as to Spirit。 The ego is the absolute Notion in so far
as it does not yet reach the unity of thought; or in this simplicity does not reach difference; and in
motion does not have rest; that is to say; in so far as positing; or the pure activity of the ego; and
setting in opposition; are not by it comprehended as the same。 Or the ego does not comprehend
the infinite repulsion; the non…ego; self…consciousness determines the non…ego; but does not know
how to make this Beyond its own。

The deficiency in the Fichtian philosophy is thus firstly that the ego retains the significance of the
individual; actual self…consciousness; as opposed to that which is universal or absolute; or to the
spirit in which it is itself a moment merely; for the individual self…consciousness simply signifies
standing apart as far as another is concerned。 Hence; if the ego was ever called absolute
existence; the most terrible offence was given; because really the ego only came before us as
signifying the individual subject as opposed to the universal。

In the second place; Fichte does not attain to the idea of Reason as the perfected; real unity of
subject and object; or of ego and non…ego; it is only; as with Kant; represented as the thought of a
union in a belief or faith; and with this Fichte likewise concludes (Grundlage der gesammten
Wissenschaftslehre; p。 301)。 This he worked out in his popular writings。 For because the ego is
fixed in its opposition to the non…ego; and is only as being opposed; it becomes lost in that unity。
The attainment of this aim is hence sent further and further back into the false; sensuous infinitude:
it is a progression implying just the same contradiction as that found in Kant; and having no present
actuality in itself; for the ego has all ac

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