登陆注册
5419400000151

第151章

Very different is the case with the problem: "How far the regress, which ascends from the given conditioned to the conditions, must extend"; whether I can say: "It is a regress in infinitum," or only "in indefinitum"; and whether, for example, setting out from the human beings at present alive in the world, I may ascend in the series of their ancestors, in infinitum- mr whether all that can be said is, that so far as I have proceeded, I have discovered no empirical ground for considering the series limited, so that I am justified, and indeed, compelled to search for ancestors still further back, although I am not obliged by the idea of reason to presuppose them.

My answer to this question is: "If the series is given in empirical intuition as a whole, the regress in the series of its internal conditions proceeds in infinitum; but, if only one member of the series is given, from which the regress is to proceed to absolute totality, the regress is possible only in indefinitum." For example, the division of a portion of matter given within certain limits- of a body, that is- proceeds in infinitum.For, as the condition of this whole is its part, and the condition of the part a part of the part, and so on, and as in this regress of decomposition an unconditioned indivisible member of the series of conditions is not to be found; there are no reasons or grounds in experience for stopping in the division, but, on the contrary, the more remote members of the division are actually and empirically given prior to this division.That is to say, the division proceeds to infinity.On the other hand, the series of ancestors of any given human being is not given, in its absolute totality, in any experience, and yet the regress proceeds from every genealogical member of this series to one still higher, and does not meet with any empirical limit presenting an absolutely unconditioned member of the series.But as the members of such a series are not contained in the empirical intuition of the whole, prior to the regress, this regress does not proceed to infinity, but only in indefinitum, that is, we are called upon to discover other and higher members, which are themselves always conditioned.

In neither case- the regressus in infinitum, nor the regressus in indefinitum, is the series of conditions to be considered as actually infinite in the object itself.This might be true of things in themselves, but it cannot be asserted of phenomena, which, as conditions of each other, are only given in the empirical regress itself.Hence, the question no longer is, "What is the quantity of this series of conditions in itself- is it finite or infinite?" for it is nothing in itself; but, "How is the empirical regress to be commenced, and how far ought we to proceed with it?" And here a signal distinction in the application of this rule becomes apparent.If the whole is given empirically, it is possible to recede in the series of its internal conditions to infinity.But if the whole is not given, and can only be given by and through the empirical regress, I can only say: "It is possible to infinity, to proceed to still higher conditions in the series." In the first case, I am justified in asserting that more members are empirically given in the object than Iattain to in the regress (of decomposition).In the second case, Iam justified only in saying, that I can always proceed further in the regress, because no member of the series.is given as absolutely conditioned, and thus a higher member is possible, and an inquiry with regard to it is necessary.In the one case it is necessary to find other members of the series, in the other it is necessary to inquire for others, inasmuch as experience presents no absolute limitation of the regress.For, either you do not possess a perception which absolutely limits your empirical regress, and in this case the regress cannot be regarded as complete; or, you do possess such a limitative perception, in which case it is not a part of your series (for that which limits must be distinct from that which is limited by it), and it is incumbent you to continue your regress up to this condition, and so on.

These remarks will be placed in their proper light by their application in the following section.

SECTION IX.Of the Empirical Use of the Regulative Principle of Reason with regard to the Cosmological Ideas.

We have shown that no transcendental use can be made either of the conceptions of reason or of understanding.We have shown, likewise, that the demand of absolute totality in the series of conditions in the world of sense arises from a transcendental employment of reason, resting on the opinion that phenomena are to be regarded as things in themselves.It follows that we are not required to answer the question respecting the absolute quantity of a series- whether it is in itself limited or unlimited.We are only called upon to determine how far we must proceed in the empirical regress from condition to condition, in order to discover, in conformity with the rule of reason, a full and correct answer to the questions proposed by reason itself.

同类推荐
  • 供养护世八天法

    供养护世八天法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上清洞真元经五籍符

    上清洞真元经五籍符

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 今古奇观

    今古奇观

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 武侯八阵兵法辑略

    武侯八阵兵法辑略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 庚子销夏记

    庚子销夏记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 地外文明:神奇的谜团(青少年科学探索营)

    地外文明:神奇的谜团(青少年科学探索营)

    本书以科幻的视角,介绍了岩画记录的外星人、外星人曾在中国、回不了家的外星人、美国出现黑衣外星人、农民奇遇外星人、科西嘉岛上的外星人、地球人吃过外星人、外星人遗址、外星人与秦始皇、外星来客在东欧等内容。
  • 史上第一宠妻

    史上第一宠妻

    一纸婚书,她成功把自己嫁给了江城最牛叉的男人叶少。她以为婚后的生活是各过各,互不相干的。结果某人立即化身为狼,成为史上第一妻奴。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 幽默图解团队管理学

    幽默图解团队管理学

    从公司的管理阶层,到最基层的员工,最困扰他们的问题往往不在市场上,而是在团队内。因此每个人都应该懂一点团队管理,只要能掌握简单的原理,并带进日常生活的思考中,你就能学会理性判断、获得分析周遭环境大小事的能力!没有空洞理论,只有寓教于乐,本书以幽默触摸管理学的精髓,让读者在轻松一笑间领悟团队管理的内涵与实践价值。
  • 熟男熟女330问

    熟男熟女330问

    《熟男熟女330问》以问答的形式,揭示了熟男熟女在情感世界的种种谜团,是集趣味性、知识性于一体的情感心理学实用书籍。书中包含大量事例的解决之道,不但让你知道为什么,更告诉你该怎么去做。
  • 我的守护灵男友

    我的守护灵男友

    守护灵的定义就是至死不渝,尽忠尽职吗?好像,和守护灵谈场恋爱也不错。 读者群:486765099
  • 我欲封皇

    我欲封皇

    修武是每一个人的权利,成仙是每一个人的梦想,即便是再卑微的生命,也同样有资格拥有自己的梦想!丁凡,一个豪门家族的家仆,一个世袭罔替的奴仆,为了修武,他努力奋斗着!为了脱离奴仆的贱籍,他奋斗着!为了生存,他奋斗着!感谢腾讯文学书评团提供书评支持!
  • 让身体不再荒凉

    让身体不再荒凉

    妈生下我的时候,我很丑,头发黄黄,又瘦又小。妈说:“这么丑的妮子,又这么小,能养活吗?给人家吧。”娘说“说什么傻话,恁不要俺要。”从此,我便有了娘。都说傻有傻福,丑有丑福,有了娘或许就是我福气的开始……
  • 佛说摩利支天菩萨陀罗尼经

    佛说摩利支天菩萨陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 快穿之繁花予卿

    快穿之繁花予卿

    “将一世繁花赠予卿”我万万年的人生一丝趣味也无,直到遇见你,我想,我的人生,不会无趣了。何其有幸遇见你,此后,我只属于你。
  • 快穿之盈满

    快穿之盈满

    (新文《快穿之带着刀剑穿越》求收藏求推荐)在所有人都选择抛弃一切带着金手指穿越的时候,只有她选择留了下来,想要陪祖父母终老,结果她的金手指却是最强大的。快穿小世界,修正扭曲的因果链。一周目世界:穿越剧情开始前。二周目世界:因果扭曲,重生穿书者横行。N周目世界:女主的一切都已经被看穿。