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the six enneads-第140部分
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ility even… of confining it within a definition。 But how can it be a Form in cases where the motion leads to deterioration; or is purely passive? Motion; we may suggest; is like the heat of the sun causing some things to grow and withering others。 In so far as Motion is a common property; it is identical in both conditions; its apparent difference is due to the objects moved。 Is; then; becoming ill identical with becoming well? As motions they are identical。 In what respect; then; do they differ? In their substrates? or is there some other criterion? This question may however be postponed until we come to consider alteration: at present we have to discover what is the constant element in every motion; for only on this basis can we establish the claim of Motion to be a genus。 Perhaps the one term covers many meanings; its claim to generic status would then correspond to that of Being。 As a solution of the problem we may suggest that motions conducing to the natural state or functioning in natural conditions should perhaps; as we have already asserted; be regarded as being in a sense Forms; while those whose direction is contrary to nature must be supposed to be assimilated to the results towards which they lead。 But what is the constant element in alteration; in growth and birth and their opposites; in local change? What is that which makes them all motions? Surely it is the fact that in every case the object is never in the same state before and after the motion; that it cannot remain still and in complete inactivity but; so long as the motion is present; is continually urged to take a new condition; never acquiescing in Identity but always courting Difference; deprived of Difference; Motion perishes。 Thus; Difference may be predicated of Motion; not merely in the sense that it arises and persists in a difference of conditions; but in the sense of being itself perpetual difference。 It follows that Time; as being created by Motion; also entails perpetual difference: Time is the measure of unceasing Motion; accompanying its course and; as it were; carried along its stream。 In short; the common basis of all Motion is the existence of a progression and an urge from potentiality and the potential to actuality and the actual: everything which has any kind of motion whatsoever derives this motion from a pre…existent potentiality within itself of activity or passivity。 23。 The Motion which acts upon Sensible objects enters from without; and so shakes; drives; rouses and thrusts its participants that they may neither rest nor preserve their identity… and all to the end that they may be caught into that restlessness; that flustering excitability which is but an image of Life。 We must avoid identifying Motion with the objects moved: by walking we do not mean the feet but the activity springing from a potentiality in the feet。 Since the potentiality is invisible; we see of necessity only the active feet… that is to say; not feet simply; as would be the case if they were at rest; but something besides feet; something invisible but indirectly seen as an accompaniment by the fact that we observe the feet to be in ever…changing positions and no longer at rest。 We infer alteration; on the other hand; from the qualitative change in the thing altered。 Where; then; does Motion reside; when there is one thing that moves and another that passes from an inherent potentiality to actuality? In the mover? How then will the moved; the patient; participate in the motion? In the moved? Then why does not Motion remain in it; once having come? It would seem that Motion must neither be separated from the active principle nor allowed to reside in it; it must proceed from agent to patient without so inhering in the latter as to be severed from the former; passing from one to the other like a breath of wind。 Now; when the potentiality of Motion consists in an ability to walk; it may be imagined as thrusting a man forward and causing him to be continually adopting a different position; when it lies in the capacity to heat; it heats; when the potentiality takes hold of Matter and builds up the organism; we have growth; and when another potentiality demolishes the structure; the result is decay; that which has the potentiality of demolition experiencing the decay。 Where the birth…giving principle is active; we find birth; where it is impotent and the power to destroy prevails; destruction takes place… not the destruction of what already exists; but that which intervenes upon the road to existence。 Health comes about in the same way… when the power which produces health is active and predominant; sickness is the result of the opposite power working in the opposite direction。 Thus; Motion is conditioned; not only by the objects in which it occurs; but also by its origins and its course; and it is a distinctive mark of Motion to be always qualified and to take its quality from the moved。 24。 With regard to locomotion: if ascending is to be held contrary to descending; and circular motion different 'in kind' from motion in a straight line; we may ask how this difference is to be defined… the difference; for example; between throwing over the head and under the feet。 The driving power is one… though indeed it might be maintained that the upward drive is different from the downward; and the downward passage of a different character from the upward; especially if it be a natural motion; in which case the up…motion constitutes lightness; the down…motion heaviness。 But in all these motions alike there is the common tendency to seek an appointed place; and in this tendency we seem to have the differentia which separates locomotion from the other species。 As for motion in a circle and motion in a straight line; if the former is in practice indistinguishable from the latter; how can we regard them as different? The only difference lies in the shape of the course; unless the view be taken that circular motion is 〃impure;〃 as not being entirely a motion; not involving a complete surrender of identity。 However; it appears in general that locomotion is a definite unity; taking its differences from externals。 25。 The nature of integration and disintegrations calls for scrutiny。 Are they different from the motions above mentioned; from coming…to…be and passing…away; from growth and decay; from change of place and from alteration? or must they be referred to these? or; again; must some of these be regarded as types of integration and disintegration? If integration implies that one element proceeds towards another; implies in short an approach; and disintegration; on the other hand; a retreat into the background; such motions may be termed local; we have clearly a case of two things moving in the direction of unity; or else making away from each other。 If however the things achieve a sort of fusion; mixture; blending; and if a unity comes into being; not when the process of combination is already complete; but in the very act of combining; to which of our specified motions shall we refer this type? There will certainly be locomotion at first; but it will be succeeded by something different; just as in growth locomotion is found at the outset; though later it is supplanted by quantitative motion。 The present case is similar: locomotion leads the way; but integration or disintegration does not inevitably follow; integration takes place only when the impinging elements become intertwined; disintegration only when they are rent asunder by the contact。 On the other hand; it often happens that locomotion follows disintegration; or else occurs simultaneously; though the experience of the disintegrated is not conceived in terms of locomotion: so too in integration a distinct experience; a distinct unification; accompanies the locomotion and remains separate from it。 Are we then to posit a new species for these two motions; adding to them; perhaps; alteration? A thing is altered by becoming dense… in other words; by integration; it is altered again by being rarefied… that is; by disintegration。 When wine and water are mixed; something is produced different from either of the pre…existing elements: thus; integration takes place; resulting in alteration。 But perhaps we should recall a previous distinction; and while holding that integrations and disintegrations precede alterations; should maintain that alterations are nonetheless distinct from either; that; further; not every alteration is of this type 'presupposing; that is to say; integration or disintegration'; and; in particular; rarefication and condensation are not identical with disintegration and integration; nor in any sense derived from them: to suppose that they were would involve the admission of a vacuum。 Again; can we use integration and disintegration to explain blackness and whiteness? But to doubt the independent existence of these qualities means that; beginning with colours; we may end by annihilating almost all qualities; or rather all without exception; for if we identify every alteration; or qualitative change; with integration and disintegration; we allow nothing whatever to come into existence; the same elements persist; nearer or farther apart。 Finally; how is it possible to class learning and being taught as integrations? 26。 We may now take the various specific types of Motion; such as locomotion; and once again enquire for each one whether it is not to be divided on the basis of direction; up; down; straight; circular… a question already raised; whether the organic motion should be distinguished from the inorganic… they are clearly not alike; whether; again; organic motions should be subdivided into walking; swimming and flight。 Perhaps we should also distinguish; in each species; natural from unnatural motions: this distinction would however imply that motions have differences which are not external。 It may indeed be the case that motions create these differences and cannot exist without them; but Nature may be supposed to be the ultimate source of motions and differences alike。 Motions may also be classed as natural; artificial and purposive: 〃natural〃 embracing growth and decay; 〃artificial〃 architecture and shi
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