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第159章

the critique of pure reason-第159章

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technically; that is; from observation of the similarity existing

between different objects; and the purely contingent use we make of

our knowledge in concreto with reference to all kinds of arbitrary

external aims; its constitution must be framed on architectonical

principles; that is; its parts must be shown to possess an essential

affinity; and be capable of being deduced from one supreme and

internal aim or end; which forms the condition of the possibility of

the scientific whole。 The schema of a science must give a priori the

plan of it (monogramma); and the division of the whole into parts;

in conformity with the idea of the science; and it must also

distinguish this whole from all others; according to certain

understood principles。

  No one will attempt to construct a science; unless he have some idea

to rest on as a proper basis。 But; in the elaboration of the

science; he finds that the schema; nay; even the definition which he

at first gave of the science; rarely corresponds with his idea; for

this idea lies; like a germ; in our reason; its parts undeveloped

and hid even from microscopical observation。 For this reason; we ought

to explain and define sciences; not according to the description which

the originator gives of them; but according to the idea which we

find based in reason itself; and which is suggested by the natural

unity of the parts of the science already accumulated。 For it will

of ten be found that the originator of a science and even his latest

successors remain attached to an erroneous idea; which they cannot

render clear to themselves; and that they thus fail in determining the

true content; the articulation or systematic unity; and the limits

of their science。

  It is unfortunate that; only after having occupied ourselves for a

long time in the collection of materials; under the guidance of an

idea which lies undeveloped in the mind; but not according to any

definite plan of arrangement… nay; only after we have spent much

time and labour in the technical disposition of our materials; does it

become possible to view the idea of a science in a clear light; and to

project; according to architectonical principles; a plan of the whole;

in accordance with the aims of reason。 Systems seem; like certain

worms; to be formed by a kind of generatio aequivoca… by the mere

confluence of conceptions; and to gain completeness only with the

progress of time。 But the schema or germ of all lies in reason; and

thus is not only every system organized according to its own idea; but

all are united into one grand system of human knowledge; of which they

form members。 For this reason; it is possible to frame an

architectonic of all human cognition; the formation of which; at the

present time; considering the immense materials collected or to be

found in the ruins of old systems; would not indeed be very difficult。

Our purpose at present is merely to sketch the plan of the

architectonic of all cognition given by pure reason; and we begin from

the point where the main root of human knowledge divides into two; one

of which is reason。 By reason I understand here the whole higher

faculty of cognition; the rational being placed in contradistinction

to the empirical。

  If I make complete abstraction of the content of cognition;

objectively considered; all cognition is; from a subjective point of

view; either historical or rational。 Historical cognition is

cognitio ex datis; rational; cognitio ex principiis。 Whatever may be

the original source of a cognition; it is; in relation to the person

who possesses it; merely historical; if he knows only what has been

given him from another quarter; whether that knowledge was

communicated by direct experience or by instruction。 Thus the Person

who has learned a system of philosophy… say the Wolfian… although he

has a perfect knowledge of all the principles; definitions; and

arguments in that philosophy; as well as of the divisions that have

been made of the system; possesses really no more than an historical

knowledge of the Wolfian system; he knows only what has been told him;

his judgements are only those which he has received from his teachers。

Dispute the validity of a definition; and he is completely at a loss

to find another。 He has formed his mind on another's; but the

imitative faculty is not the productive。 His knowledge has not been

drawn from reason; and although; objectively considered; it is

rational knowledge; subjectively; it is merely historical。 He has

learned this or that philosophy and is merely a plaster cast of a

living man。 Rational cognitions which are objective; that is; which

have their source in reason; can be so termed from a subjective

point of view; only when they have been drawn by the individual

himself from the sources of reason; that is; from principles; and it

is in this way alone that criticism; or even the rejection of what has

been already learned; can spring up in the mind。

  All rational cognition is; again; based either on conceptions; or on

the construction of conceptions。 The former is termed philosophical;

the latter mathematical。 I have already shown the essential difference

of these two methods of cognition in the first chapter。 A cognition

may be objectively philosophical and subjectively historical… as is

the case with the majority of scholars and those who cannot look

beyond the limits of their system; and who remain in a state of

pupilage all their lives。 But it is remarkable that mathematical

knowledge; when committed to memory; is valid; from the subjective

point of view; as rational knowledge also; and that the same

distinction cannot be drawn here as in the case of philosophical

cognition。 The reason is that the only way of arriving at this

knowledge is through the essential principles of reason; and thus it

is always certain and indisputable; because reason is employed in

concreto… but at the same time a priori… that is; in pure and;

therefore; infallible intuition; and thus all causes of illusion and

error are excluded。 Of all the a priori sciences of reason; therefore;

mathematics alone can be learned。 Philosophy… unless it be in an

historical manner… cannot be learned; we can at most learn to

philosophize。

  Philosophy is the system of all philosophical cognition。 We must use

this term in an objective sense; if we understand by it the

archetype of all attempts at philosophizing; and the standard by which

all subjective philosophies are to be judged。 In this sense;

philosophy is merely the idea of a possible science; which does not

exist in concreto; but to which we endeavour in various ways to

approximate; until we have discovered the right path to pursue… a path

overgrown by the errors and illusions of sense… and the image we

have hitherto tried in vain to shape has become a perfect copy of

the great prototype。 Until that time; we cannot learn philosophy… it

does not exist; if it does; where is it; who possesses it; and how

shall we know it? We can only learn to philosophize; in other words;

we can only exercise our powers of reasoning in accordance with

general principles; retaining at the same time; the right of

investigating the sources of these principles; of testing; and even of

rejecting them。

  Until then; our conception of philosophy is only a scholastic

conception… a conception; that is; of a system of cognition which we

are trying to elaborate into a science; all that we at present know

being the systematic unity of this cognition; and consequently the

logical completeness of the cognition for the desired end。 But there

is also a cosmical conception (conceptus cosmicus) of philosophy;

which has always formed the true basis of this term; especially when

philosophy was personified and presented to us in the ideal of a

philosopher。 In this view philosophy is the science of the relation of

all cognition to the ultimate and essential aims of human reason

(teleologia rationis 

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