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shorter logic-第6部分

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assuming; accordingly; at first a stand…aloof and negative attitude towards the
point from which it started。 Through this state of antagonism to the phenomena
of sense its first satisfaction is found in itself; in the Idea of the universal essence
of these phenomena: an Idea (the Absolute; or God) which may be more or less
abstract。 Meanwhile; on the other hand; the sciences; based on experience; exert
upon the mind a stimulus to overcome the form in which their varied contents are
presented; and to elevate these contents to the rank of necessary truth。 For the
facts of science have the aspect of a vast conglomerate; one thing coming side by
side with another; as if they were merely given and presented … as in short devoid
of all essential or necessary connection In consequence of this stimulus thought is
dragged out of its unrealised universality and its fancied or merely possible
satisfaction; and impelled onwards to a development from itself。 On one hand this
development only means that thought incorporates the contents of science; in all
their speciality of detail as submitted。 On the other it makes these contents imitate
the action of the original creative thought; and present the aspect of a free
evolution determined by the logic of the fact alone。 

On the relation between 'immediacy' and 'mediation' in consciousness we shall
speak later; expressly and with more detail。 Here it may be sufficient to premise
that; though the two 'moments' or factors present themselves as distinct; still
neither of them can be absent; nor can one exist apart from the other。 Thus the
knowledge of God; as of every supersensible reality; is in its true character an
exaltation above sensations or perceptions: it consequently involves a negative
attitude to the initial data of sense; and to that extent implies mediation。 For to
mediate is to take something as a beginning and to go onward to a second thing;
so that the existence of this second thing depends on our having reached it from
something else contradistinguished from it。 In spite of this; the knowledge of God
is no mere sequel; dependent on the empirical phase of consciousness: in fact; its
independence is essentially secured through this negation and exaltation。 No
doubt; if we attach an unfair prominence to the fact of mediation; and represent it
as implying a state of conditionedness; it may be said … not that the remark would
mean much … that philosophy is the child of experience; and owes its rise to a
posteriori fact。 (As a matter of fact; thinking is always the negation of what we
have immediately before us。) With as much truth however we may be said to
owe eating to the means of nourishment; so long as we can have no eating
without them。 If we take this view; eating is certainly represented as ungrateful: it
devours that to which it owes itself。 Thinking; upon this view of its action; is
equally ungrateful。 

But there is also an a priori aspect of thought; where by a mediation; not made
by anything external but by a reflection into self; we have that immediacy which
is universality; the selfcomplacency of thought which is so much at home with
itself that it feels an innate indifference to descend to particulars; and in that way
to the development of its own nature。 It is thus also with religion; which whether
it be rude or elaborate; whether it be invested with scientific precision of detail or
confined to the simple faith of the heart; possesses; throughout; the same
intensive nature of contentment and felicity。 But if thought never gets further than
the universality of the Ideas; as was perforce the case in the first philosophies
(when the Eleatics never got beyond Being; or Heraclitus beyond Becoming); it is
justly open to the charge of formalism。 Even in a more advanced phase of
philosophy; we may often find a doctrine which has mastered merely certain
abstract propositions or formulae; such as; 'In the absolute all is one'; 

'Subject and object are identical' … and only repeating the same thing when it
comes to particulars。 Bearing in mind this first period of thought; the period of
mere generality; we may safely say that experience is the real author of growth
and advance in philosophy。 For; firstly; the empirical sciences do not stop short at
the mere observation of the individual features of a phenomenon。 By the aid of
thought; they are able to meet philosophy with materials prepared for it; in the
shape of general uniformities; i。e。 laws; and classifications of the phenomena。
When this is done; the particular facts which they contain are ready to be
received into philosophy。 This; secondly; implies a certain compulsion on thought
itself to proceed to these concrete specific truths。 The reception into philosophy
of these scientific materials; now that thought has removed their immediacy and
made them cease to be mere data; forms at the same time a development of
thought out of itself。 Philosophy; then; owes its development to the empirical
sciences。 In return it gives their contents what is so vital to them; the freedom of
thought … gives them; in short; an a priori character。 These contents are now
warranted necessary; and no longer depend on the evidence of facts merely; that
they were so found and so experienced。 The fact as experienced thus becomes an
illustration and a copy of the original and completely self…supporting activity of
thought。 

                                    §13

Stated in exact terms; such is the origin and development of philosophy。 But the
History of Philosophy gives us the same process from a historical and external
point of view。 The stages in the evolution of the Idea there seem to follow each
other by accident; and to present merely a number of different and unconnected
principles; which the several systems of philosophy carry out in their own way。
But it is not so。 For these thousands of years the same Architect has directed the
work: and that Architect is the one living Mind whose nature is to think; to bring
to selfconsciousness what it is; and; with its being thus set as object before it; to
be at the same time raised above it; and so to reach a higher stage of its own
being。 The different systems which the history of philosophy presents are
therefore not irreconcilable with unity。 

We may either say; that it is one philosophy at different degrees of maturity: or
that the particular principle; which is the groundwork of each system; is but a
branch of one and the same universe of thought。 In philosophy the latest birth of
time is the result of all the systems that have preceded it; and must include their
principles; and so; if; on other grounds; it deserve the title of philosophy; will be
the fullest; most comprehensive; and most adequate system of all。 

The spectacle of so many and so various systems of philosophy suggests the
necessity of defining more exactly the relation of Universal to Particular。 When
the universal is made a mere form and co…ordinated with the particular; as if it
were on the same level; it sinks into a particular itself。 Even common sense in
everyday matters is above the absurdity of setting a universal beside the
particulars。 Would any one; who wished for fruit; reject cherries; pears; and
grapes; on the ground that they were cherries; pears; or grapes; and not fruit? But
when philosophy is in question; the excuse of many is that philosophies are so
different; and none of them is the philosophy … that each is only a philosophy。
Such a plea is assumed to justify any amount of contempt for philosophy。 And
yet cherries too are fruit。 Often; too; a system; of which the principle is the
universal; is put on a level with another of which the principle is a particular; and
with theories which deny the existence of philosophy altogether。 Such systems are
said to be only different views of philosophy。 With equal justice; light and
darkness might be styled different kinds of light。 

§14

The same evolution of thought which is exhibited in the history of philosophy is
presented in the System of Philosophy itself。 Here; instead of surveying the
process; as we do in history; from the outside; we see the movement of thought
clearly defined in its native medium。 The thought; which is genuine and
self…supporting; must be intrinsically concrete; it must be an Idea; and when it is
viewed in the whole of its universality; it is the Idea; or the Absolute。 The science
of this Idea must form a system。 For the truth is concrete; that is; while it gives a
bond and principle of unity; it also possesses an internal source of development。
Truth; then; is only possible as a universe or totality of thought; and the freedom
of the whole; as well as the necessity of the several sub…divisions; which it
implies; are only possible when these are discriminated and defined。 

Unless it is a system; a philosophy is not a scientific production。 Unsystematic
philosophising can only be expected to give expression to personal peculiarities of
mind; and has no principle for the regulation of its contents。 Apart from their
interdependence and organic union; the truths of philosophy are valueless; and
must then be treated as baseless hypotheses; or personal convictions。 Yet many
philosophical treatises confine themselves to such an exposition of the opinions
and sentiments of the author。 

The term system is often misunderstood。 It does not denote a philosophy; the
principle of which is narrow and to be distinguished from others。 On the contrary;
a genuine philosophy makes it a principle to include every particular principle。 

                                    §15

Each of the parts of philosophy is a philosophical whole; a circle rounded and
complete in itself。 In each of these parts; however; the philosophical Idea is found
in a particular specificality or medium。 The single circle; because it is a real
totality; bursts through the limits imposed by its special medium; and gives rise to
a wider circle。 The whole of philosophy in this way resembles a circle of circles。
The Idea appears in each single circle; but; at the same time; the whole Idea is
constituted by the system of these peculiar phases; and each is a nec
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