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第41章

phenomenology of mind-第41章

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something different from what is already said; it really says nothing at all; but merely repeats the
same thing over again。 So far as the fact itself goes; this process gives rise to nothing new; the
process is only of account as a process of understanding。 In it; however; we now get acquainted
with just what we missed in the case of the law — absolute change itself: for this process; when
looked at more narrowly; is directly the opposite of itself。 It sets up; that is。 a distinction which is
not only for us no distinction; but which it itself cancels as distinction。 This is the same process of
change which was formerly manifested as the play of forces。 In the latter we found the distinction
of inciting and incited force; or force expressing itself; and force withdrawn into itself; but these
were distinctions which in reality were no distinctions; and therefore were also immediately
cancelled again。 We have here not merely the naked unity; so that no distinction could be set up at
all; the process we have is rather this; that a distinction is certainly made; but because it is no
distinction; it is again superseded。

Thus; then; with the process of explaining; we see the ebb and flow of change; which was formerly
characteristic of the sphere of appearance; and lay outside the inner world; finding its way into the
region of the supersensible itself。 Our consciousness; however; has passed from the inner being as
an object over to understanding on the other side; and finds the changing process there。

The change is in this way not yet a process of the fact itself; but rather presents itself before us as
pure change; just by the content of the moments of change remaining the same。 Since; however;
the notion qua notion of understanding is the same as the inner nature of things; this change
becomes for understanding the law of the inner world。 Understanding thus learns that it is a law in
the sphere of appearance for distinctions to come about which are no distinctions。 In other words;
it learns that what is self…same is self…repulsive; and; similarly; that the distinctions are only such as
in reality are none and cancel one another; or that what is not self…same is self…attractive。 Here we
have a second law; whose content is the opposite of what formerly was called law; viz。 the
invariable and unchanging self…identical distinction; for this new law expresses rather the process of
like becoming unlike; and unlike becoming like。 The notion demands of the unreflective mind to
bring both laws together; and become conscious of their opposition。 Of course the second is also
a law; an inner self…identical being; but it is rather a self…sameness of the unlike; a constancy of
inconstancy。 In the play of forces this law proved to be just this absolute transition and pure
change; the selfsame; force; split into an opposition; that in the first instance appeared as a
substantial independent distinction; which; however; in point of fact proved to be none。 For it is
the selfsame which repels itself from itself; and this element repelled is in consequence essentially
self…attracted; for it is the same; the distinction made; since it is none; thus cancels itself again。 The
distinction is hence set forth as a distinction on the part of the fact itself; or as an absolute
(objective) distinction; and this distinction on the part of the fact is thus nothing but the selfsame;
that which has repelled itself from itself; and consequently only set up an opposition which is none。

By means of this principle; the first supersensible world; the changeless kingdom of laws; the
immediate ectype and copy of the world of perception; has turned round into its opposite。 The law
was in general; like its differences; self…identical; now; however; it is established that each side is;
on the contrary; the opposite of itself。 The self…identical repels itself from itself; and the
self…discordant sets up to be selfsame。 In truth only with a determination of this kind is distinction
inner distinction; or immanent distinction; when the like is unlike itself; and the unlike like itself。

                  (c) The Law of Pure Distinction: the Inverted World

This second supersensible world is in this way the inverted world (verkehrte Welt); and;
moreover; since one aspect is already present in the first supersensible world; the inverted form of
this first。 The inner being is; thereby; in its character of appearance completed。 For the first
supersensible world was only the immediate raising of the world of perception into the element of
universality。 It has its necessary counterpart in this world of perception; which still retains as its
own the principle of change and alteration。 The first kingdom of laws dispenses with this principle;
but receives it in the form of an inverted world。

By the law of this inverted world; then; the selfsame in the first world is the unlike of itself; and the
unlike in the first is equally unlike to itself; or it becomes like itself。 Expressed in determinate
moments; this will assume the form that what by the law of the first is sweet; is; in this inner;
inverted reality; sour; what is there black is here white。 What; by the law of the first; was north
pole in the case of the magnet; is; in its other supersensible inner world (viz。 in the earth); south
pole; 〃while what was there south pole is here north pole。 Similarly; what by the first law is in the
case of electricity the oxygen pole becomes in its other supersensible reality hydrogen pole; and
conversely; what is there the pole of hydrogen becomes here the pole of oxygen。 To take another
sphere of experience: revenge on an enemy is; according to the primitive immediate law; the
supreme satisfaction of injured individuality。 This law; however — that of standing up against one
who does not treat me as a substantial self; showing him that I am a substantial being; and even
doing away with him as a reality — this law is transmuted by the principle of the other world into
the very opposite; the reinstatement of myself as the true reality through the removal of the alien
hostile being is turned into self…destruction。 If now this inversion; which is brought out in the
punishment of crime; is made into a law; it also is again only the law of a world which has an
inverted supersensuous world standing in antithesis to itself; where that which is despised in the
former comes to honour; and that which in the former is honoured meets with contempt。 The
punishment which; by the law of the former; disgraces a man and annihilates him; turns round in its
inverted world into the pardoning grace which preserves his being and brings him to honour。

Looked at on the surface; this inverted world is the antithesis of the first in the sense that it has the
latter outside itself; and repels that world from itself as an inverted reality; that the one is the sphere
of appearance; while the other is the inherent being; that the one is the world as it is for an other;
the other again the world as it is for itself。 In this way; to use the previous examples; what tastes
sweet is properly; or inwardly in the thing; sour; or what is north pole in the case of the actual
magnet belonging to the sphere of appearance; would be; in the inner or essential being; south
pole。 What is shown to be oxygen pole in electricity as a phenomenon; would be hydrogen pole in
the case of electricity not failing within the sphere of appearance。 Or again; an act which in
appearance is a crime would in its inner nature be capable of being really good — a bad act may
have a good intention; punishment is only in appearance punishment; in itself or in another world it
might well be; for the criminal; a benefit。 But such oppositions of inner and outer; appearance and
supersensible; in the sense of two sorts of reality; are no longer to be found here。 The differences
repelled are not divided anew and assigned to two substances such as would support them and
lend them a separate subsistence; the result of which would be that understanding would leave the
inner region; and fall back again on its previous position。 The one aspect or substance would be
once more the wo

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