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第2章

the critique of pure reason-第2章

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therefore; if the if the principle presented by it prove to be

insufficient for the solution of even a single one of those

questions to which the very nature of reason gives birth; we must

reject it; as we could not be perfectly certain of its sufficiency

in the case of the others。

  While I say this; I think I see upon the countenance of the reader

signs of dissatisfaction mingled with contempt; when he hears

declarations which sound so boastful and extravagant; and yet they are

beyond comparison more moderate than those advanced by the commonest

author of the commonest philosophical programme; in which the

dogmatist professes to demonstrate the simple nature of the soul; or

the necessity of a primal being。 Such a dogmatist promises to extend

human knowledge beyond the limits of possible experience; while I

humbly confess that this is completely beyond my power。 Instead of any

such attempt; I confine myself to the examination of reason alone

and its pure thought; and I do not need to seek far for the

sum…total of its cognition; because it has its seat in my own mind。

Besides; common logic presents me with a complete and systematic

catalogue of all the simple operations of reason; and it is my task to

answer the question how far reason can go; without the material

presented and the aid furnished by experience。

  So much for the completeness and thoroughness necessary in the

execution of the present task。 The aims set before us are not

arbitrarily proposed; but are imposed upon us by the nature of

cognition itself。

  The above remarks relate to the matter of our critical inquiry。 As

regards the form; there are two indispensable conditions; which any

one who undertakes so difficult a task as that of a critique of pure

reason; is bound to fulfil。 These conditions are certitude and

clearness。

  As regards certitude; I have fully convinced myself that; in this

sphere of thought; opinion is perfectly inadmissible; and that

everything which bears the least semblance of an hypothesis must be

excluded; as of no value in such discussions。 For it is a necessary

condition of every cognition that is to be established upon a priori

grounds that it shall be held to be absolutely necessary; much more is

this the case with an attempt to determine all pure a priori

cognition; and to furnish the standard… and consequently an example…

of all apodeictic (philosophical) certitude。 Whether I have

succeeded in what I professed to do; it is for the reader to

determine; it is the author's business merely to adduce grounds and

reasons; without determining what influence these ought to have on the

mind of his judges。 But; lest anything he may have said may become the

innocent cause of doubt in their minds; or tend to weaken the effect

which his arguments might otherwise produce… he may be allowed to

point out those passages which may occasion mistrust or difficulty;

although these do not concern the main purpose of the present work。 He

does this solely with the view of removing from the mind of the reader

any doubts which might affect his judgement of the work as a whole;

and in regard to its ultimate aim。

  I know no investigations more necessary for a full insight into

the nature of the faculty which we call understanding; and at the same

time for the determination of the rules and limits of its use; than

those undertaken in the second chapter of the 〃Transcendental

Analytic;〃 under the title of 〃Deduction of the Pure Conceptions of

the Understanding〃; and they have also cost me by far the greatest

labour… labour which; I hope; will not remain uncompensated。 The

view there taken; which goes somewhat deeply into the subject; has two

sides; The one relates to the objects of the pure understanding; and

is intended to demonstrate and to render comprehensible the

objective validity of its a priori conceptions; and it forms for

this reason an essential part of the Critique。 The other considers the

pure understanding itself; its possibility and its powers of

cognition… that is; from a subjective point of view; and; although

this exposition is of great importance; it does not belong essentially

to the main purpose of the work; because the grand question is what

and how much can reason and understanding; apart from experience;

cognize; and not; how is the faculty of thought itself possible? As

the latter is an; inquiry into the cause of a given effect; and has

thus in it some semblance of an hypothesis (although; as I shall

show on another occasion; this is really not the fact); it would

seem that; in the present instance; I had allowed myself to enounce

a mere opinion; and that the reader must therefore be at liberty to

hold a different opinion。 But I beg to remind him that; if my

subjective deduction does not produce in his mind the conviction of

its certitude at which I aimed; the objective deduction; with which

alone the present work is properly concerned; is in every respect

satisfactory。

  As regards clearness; the reader has a right to demand; in the first

place; discursive or logical clearness; that is; on the basis of

conceptions; and; secondly; intuitive or aesthetic clearness; by means

of intuitions; that is; by examples or other modes of illustration

in concreto。 I have done what I could for the first kind of

intelligibility。 This was essential to my purpose; and it thus

became the accidental cause of my inability to do complete justice

to the second requirement。 I have been almost always at a loss; during

the progress of this work; how to settle this question。 Examples and

illustrations always appeared to me necessary; and; in the first

sketch of the Critique; naturally fell into their proper places。 But I

very soon became aware of the magnitude of my task; and the numerous

problems with which I should be engaged; and; as I perceived that this

critical investigation would; even if delivered in the driest

scholastic manner; be far from being brief; I found it unadvisable

to enlarge it still more with examples and explanations; which are

necessary only from a popular point of view。 I was induced to take

this course from the consideration also that the present work is not

intended for popular use; that those devoted to science do not require

such helps; although they are always acceptable; and that they would

have materially interfered with my present purpose。 Abbe Terrasson

remarks with great justice that; if we estimate the size of a work;

not from the number of its pages; but from the time which we require

to make ourselves master of it; it may be said of many a book that

it would be much shorter; if it were not so short。 On the other

hand; as regards the comprehensibility of a system of speculative

cognition; connected under a single principle; we may say with equal

justice: many a book would have been much clearer; if it had not

been intended to be so very clear。 For explanations and examples;

and other helps to intelligibility; aid us in the comprehension of

parts; but they distract the attention; dissipate the mental power

of the reader; and stand in the way of his forming a clear

conception of the whole; as he cannot attain soon enough to a survey

of the system; and the colouring and embellishments bestowed upon it

prevent his observing its articulation or organization… which is the

most important consideration with him; when he comes to judge of its

unity and stability。

  The reader must naturally have a strong inducement to co…operate

with the present author; if he has formed the intention of erecting

a complete and solid edifice of metaphysical science; according to the

plan now laid before him。 Metaphysics; as here represented; is the

only science which admits of completion… and with little labour; if it

is united; in a short time; so that nothing will be left to future

generations except the task of illustrating and applying it

didactically。 For this science is nothing more than the in

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