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第70章

phenomenology of mind-第70章

小说: phenomenology of mind 字数: 每页4000字

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knowing its own spontaneous activity in opposition to them; to follow the bent of its own
inclinations; affections; and emotions; and carry off thence what is merely of particular and special
moment for itself; and thus make what is objective conform to itself。 In the former it behaves
negatively towards itself as single and individual mind; in the latter negatively towards itself as the
universal being。

In the former aspect independence 'or self…dependence' gives what is met with merely the form of
conscious individuality in general; and as regards the content remains within the general reality
given; in the second aspect; however; it gives the reality at least a certain special modification;
which does not contradict its essential content; or even a modification by which the individual qua
particular reality and peculiar content sets itself against the general reality。 This opposition
becomes a form of wrongdoing when the individual cancels that reality in a merely particular
manner; or when it does so in a manner that is general and thus for all; when it puts another world;
another right; law; and custom in place of those already there。

Observational psychology; which in the first instance states what observation finds regarding the
general forms brought to its notice in the active consciousness; discovers all sorts of faculties;
inclinations; and passions; and since; while narrating what this collection contains; the
remembrance of the unity of self…consciousness is not to be suppressed; observational psychology
is bound to get the length at least of wonderment that such a lot and such a miscellany of things can
happen to be somehow alongside one another in the mind as in a kind of bag; more especially
when they are seen to be not lifeless inert things; but restless active processes。

                           3。 The Law of Indiviuality

In telling over these various faculties observation keeps to the universal aspect: the unity of these
multifarious capacities is the opposite aspect to this universality; is the actual concrete individuality。

To take up again thus the different concrete individualities; and to describe how one man has more
inclination for this the other for that; how one has more intelligence than the other — all this is;
however; something much more uninteresting than even to reckon up the species of insects;
mosses; and so on。 For these latter give observation the right to take them thus individually and
disconnectedly (begrifflos); because they belong essentially to the sphere of fortuitous detailed
particulars。 To take conscious individuality on the other hand; as a particular phenomenal entity;
and treat it in so wooden a fashion; is self…contradictory; because the essential nature of
individuality lies in the universal element of mind。 Since; however; the process of apprehending it
causes it at the same time to pass into the form of universality; to apprehend it is to find its law;
and seems in this way to have a rational purpose in view; and a necessary function to fulfil。

The moments constituting the content of the law are on the one hand individuality itself; on the
other its universal inorganic nature; viz。 the given circumstances; situation; habits; customs; religion;
and so forth; from these the determinate individuality is to be understood and comprehended。
They contain something specific; determinate; as well as universal; and are at the same time
something lying at hand; which furnishes material for observation and on the other side expresses
itself in the form of individuality。

The law of this relation of the two sides has now to contain and express the sort of effect and
influence these determinate circumstances exert on individuality。 This individuality; however just
consists both in being the universal; and hence in passively and directly assimilating and blending
with the given universals; the customs; habits; etc。; thus becoming conformed to them; as also in
taking up an attitude of opposition towards them and thus transforming and transmuting them; and
again in behaving towards them in its individual character with complete indifference; neither
allowing them to exert an influence over it; nor setting itself actively against them。 On that account
what is to have an influence on individuality; and what sort of influence it is to have — which;
properly speaking; mean the same thin…depend entirely on individuality itself: to say that by such
and such an influence this individuality has become this specifically determinate individuality means
nothing else than saying it has been this all along。 Circumstances; situation; customs; and so on;
which show themselves on one side as something given; and on the other as within this specific
individuality; reveal merely indeterminate nature of individuality; which is not the point under
consideration。 If these circumstances; style of thought; customs; the whole state of the world; in
short; had not been; then assuredly the individual would not have been what he is; for all the
elements that find a place in this 〃 state of the world 〃 constitute this universal substance。

By the way; however; in which the state of the world has affected in particular any given individual
— and it is such an individual that has to be comprehended — it must itself have assumed a
particular shape on its own account; and have operated upon the individual in the specific
character which it assumed。 Only so could it have made the individual the specific particular
individual he is。 If the external element is so constituted in and for itself as it appears in
individuality; the latter would be comprehended from the nature of the former。 We should have a
double gallery of pictures; one of which would be the reflexion of the other: the one the gallery of
external circumstance completely encompassing; circumscribing; and determining the individual;
the other the same gallery translated into the form in which those circumstances are in the
conscious individual: the former the spherical surface; the latter the centre reflectively representing
that surface within it。

But the spherical surface; the world for the individual; carries on the face of it this double meaning:
it is in and for itself the actual world and situation; and it is the world of the individual。 It is the
world of the individual either in so far as this individual was merely fused and blended with it; had
let that world; just as it is; pass into its own nature; and had taken up towards it merely the attitude
of a formal consciousness; or; on the other hand; it is the world of the individual in the sense in
which the given has been transformed and transmuted by that individual。

Since reality is capable of having this twofold meaning on account of this freedom of the individual;
the world of the individual is only to be understood from the individual himself; and the influence of
reality upon the individual; a reality which is represented as having a being all its own (an und für
sich); receives through this individual absolutely the opposite significance — the individual either
lets the stream of reality flowing in upon it have its way; or breaks off and diverts the current of its
influence。 In consequence of this; however; 〃 psychological necessity〃 becomes an empty phrase;
so empty that there is the absolute possibility that what is said to have this influence could equally
well not have had it。

Herewith drops out of account that existence which was to be something all by itself; and was
meant to constitute one aspect; and that the universal aspect; of a law。 Individuality is what its
world; in the sense of its own world; is。 Individuality itself is the cycle of its own action; in which it
has presented and established itself as reality; and is simply and solely a unity of what is given and
what is constructed — a unity aspects do not fall apart; as in the idea of psychological law; into a
world given per se and an individuality existing for itself。 Or if those aspects are thus considered
each by itself; there is no necessity to be found between them; and no law of their relation to one
another。 




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