登陆注册
5416500000149

第149章 Chapter VI(13)

Mill does not want all this apparatus to get rid of the transcendental world.It is for him too obviously superfluous to require to be exploded.How then does he come into conflict with Hamilton?We must turn for explanation to another of Kant's arguments.The universe must be regarded as in some sense one,though that does not prove the existence of a simple and absolute Being as its ground or principle.On the other hand,the universe is an indefinitely complex multitude of reciprocally dependent things.We can bring the 'laws'into unity and harmony;but the things through which the laws are manifested are themselves infinitely numerous.We may then ask whether the universe is not only one but a whole;whether its unity entitles us to call it a single object.This leads to the famous 'antinomies.'They have been familiar enough in many forms since speculation began.The universe is given in space and time.Now,we cannot think of space and time either as finite or infinite.We cannot think of space as finite because,however far we go,there is still space beyond.We cannot think of space as infinite,because to imagine infinite space would require an infinite mind and infinite time.

Space must be either infinite or finite,because one of two contradictories must be true,and yet each is 'inconceivable.'Imust confess with due humility that I could never see any antinomy at all.In this I agree with Mill,(86)though I cannot agree with his attempt to explain our beliefs in the infinity of space by an 'inseparable association.'The apparent antinomy is due,I fancy,to a shift in the meaning of 'infinite.'The mathematician calls space 'infinite'because space is limited by space,and there cannot be a 'whole'of space.If by 'infinite'Imean the completion of a process which ex hypothesi cannot be completed,I become self-contradictory.There is no meaning in 'a whole'of space,though every particular space is a whole.Acuter reasoners,however,can see the difficulty,and we will therefore admit the 'antinomy.'Then we must observe that,according to Kant,the antinomies apply solely to the cosmological idea.There is nothing,he says,(87)antinomial in the psychological and theological ideas;for they 'contain no contradiction.'He infers that their reality can be no more denied than affirmed.If from the organism I infer a soul I fall into a 'paralogism,'but not into an 'antinomy.'We do not prove that soul and no-soul are necessary alternatives and both 'inconceivable,'but simply that the soul,as a monad,is a superfluity which explains nothing --a thought interpreted as a thing.The antinomy occurs only when we deal with the perceived universe,and ask whether it has or has not limits.It has no application to the argument about God or the soul.Since they are not in space they have no concern with the antinomies involved in the conception of space.

Hamilton's misappropriation of this argument is the master fallacy of his system.In the Cousin essay he lays down a dogma without the slightest attempt to prove it.'The conditioned is the mean between two extremes --two inconditionates --exclusive of each other,neither of which can be conceived as possible,but of which,on the principles of contradiction and the excluded middle,one must be admitted as necessary.'(88)He adds that our faculties are thus shown to be weak,but not deceitful.We learn,moreover,the 'salutary lesson'that the capacity of 'thought is not to be constituted into the measure of existence,'and we are warned from 'recognising the domain of our knowledge as necessarily coextensive with the horizon of our faith.'In a note we are invited to accept as true the declaration 'of a pious philosophy --a God understood would be no God at all';and we are told that 'the last and highest consecration of all true religion must be an altar to the unknown God,'--which does not appear to have been St.Paul's opinion.This doctrine was repeated again and again in various lectures and notes.It was applied by Mansel to defend Christianity,and was in a sense accepted by Mr.Herbert Spencer as a support of Agnosticism.(89)Yet it is sprung upon us in this abrupt fashion,not only without proof,but without any clear statement of its meaning;and,as Ithink,is really the expression of a confusion of two lines of argument.An exposition of this great axiom,he says,(90)would show that 'some of the most illustrious principles'are only its 'subordinate modifications applied to certain primary notions.'

Among such notions are those of 'cause and effect'and 'substance and phenomenon.'The discussion of Cause and Effect(91)illustrates sufficiently the curious shifting of the argument.

Our inability to conceive a beginning either of time or of the existence of things in time gives the apparent necessity of causation.But as we cannot suppose an infinite regress,the necessity corresponds only to an 'impotence'of our minds.Hence,he argues,in the case of the human will,we must admit the possibility,though not the conceivability,of an absolute beginning,and therefore of freewill.The argument,if sound,is applicable to cause in general as well as to the will.Hamilton may mean that since an absolute beginning is possible at some time,it is possible at any time.We might then have an antinomy.

同类推荐
  • 雅言

    雅言

    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。
  • 宗宝道独禅师语录

    宗宝道独禅师语录

    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。
  • 佛说圣佛母小字般若波罗蜜多经

    佛说圣佛母小字般若波罗蜜多经

    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。
  • 龙沙纪略

    龙沙纪略

    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。
  • CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

    CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

    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
  • 超神学院之剑临

    超神学院之剑临

    天使,恶魔重现人间,诸神再次降临。地球面临强大文明入侵,一个有着两世的地球青年因为一次意外来到超神学院,当面对众多神级文明的入侵他将如何抉择。
  • 恋爱通缉令:拽丫头别想逃

    恋爱通缉令:拽丫头别想逃

    他是冰山校草,她是恶魔校花,当这冰山碰到恶魔……“凌子烨,你这色狼又偷亲我。”“偷亲你是我的专属。”“……”“喂!你到底是不是女的,这么暴力。”
  • 给爱情下个套

    给爱情下个套

    《给爱情下个套》讲述在一天之内将三个女朋友变成三个小妹的刘小备,是一个普通的市场推销员,却有着不普通的梦想,那就是将安全套的普及工作进行到底。带着这份梦想而努力的刘小备过着诙谐自得的生活,他既能将安全套销售给乞丐,也能用安全套让警官的老婆怀孕……当某一天,刘小备遇见了酷似自己暗恋的大学同学花小宁的筱悠时,刘小备开始为爱情奋斗。于此同时,自己曾经的两位女友一个带着四岁的孩子,一个带着未出生的孩子来投奔刘小备,他该如何应对……
  • Anthology of Massachusetts Poets

    Anthology of Massachusetts Poets

    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。
  • 灵智未尸

    灵智未尸

    明明被活尸感染,醒来却还是人身。三十年弹指一挥间,世界已经沧桑巨变。苏醒之后的李洛该如何面对这个日益崩坏的世界……
  • 乐园东区16栋303室

    乐园东区16栋303室

    陆大壮向管教标准地鞠了一个躬,转身迈出灰色的铁门,咣啷一声,铁门在他的身后发出一声闷响,陆大壮六年的刑期就算结束了。陆大壮是坐公共汽车回的家。本来,他也想打车,可在这么个荒郊野岭,在监狱附近,他又穿着一身牢服,哪有出租车肯为他停下来。陆大壮是被减刑提前释放的,他的家人并不知情,又因为被关进来的那一年是冬天,现在是盛夏,所以陆大壮没有衣服可换,他只能背着冬天的棉衣,穿着灰色的牢服。他不怕路人的眼光,他想好了,到了市里,找一家商店把这身行头换下来,他就是要突然出现在家人面前,给他们一个惊喜。陆大壮一路打听,倒了三次车才到了传说中的新家——乐园东区。
  • 嫡女映儿

    嫡女映儿

    她一个家庭主妇竟然也跟着潮流穿越了?她无法相信自己竟然穿越到了一个年幼、还即将被退亲的小女孩身上。好嘛,退亲就退亲,她要一个名誉赔偿损失费,不为过吧?什么?不给?不给我就上衙门告你们韩家出背信弃义、出尔反尔。陷害父亲坐牢?我巧施计策,让父亲重出升天连升数级。带替奶奶让娘立规矩?我让狗狗追着你到处乱窜,吓得你屁滚尿流。你贵妃怎么滴,害我弟弟?我照样巧施鬼计让皇上明白你这美女蛇。你公主怎么滴,敢抢我夫君?我照样然让你偷鸡不着蚀把米。太子也敢与我斗心机?我让你赔了夫人又折兵。她一贯信奉人不伤我,我不伤人,人若伤我,我让一步,人再伤我,我让你无根。俊美绝伦的皇子恋上了她。温文尔雅的丞相迷上了她。爽朗如风的御史看上了她。再来一个美少年死追不放?连赔了夫人又折兵的太子竟然也会爱上她?看现在主妇如何玩转古代,宅斗、宫斗。
  • 新概念作文十六年纪念版精华范本(才女卷)

    新概念作文十六年纪念版精华范本(才女卷)

    近几年中学语文教育也在大幅度改革,许多人认为高考作文的命题和新概念作文大赛复赛题已经相当接近,这是非常好的发展趋势。正如王蒙所说,新概念由旧概念来。倡导新概念不是为了标新立异,而是想提高青年学子对作文的兴趣,告诉他们只有真实的、表达真情实感的、富有创造性和想象力的文章才是好文章。
  • 一起呢

    一起呢

    斑驳的小县城里,满满是你我的身影。林望,李峣。一个懵懂热情,一个明朗阳光;一个不知情所起,一个不知何时一往而深。从湘湾到魔都,从学生时代到初入职场,步步荆棘。一起呢,就走出了万丈光芒。一起蜕变,一起成长,一起赢得掌声,一起收获未来。
  • 高中三年有道光

    高中三年有道光

    当我再度回首我的高中生活,我忽然发现,在我挣扎求生的这三年时光里,原来也有快乐和感动深深地烙在我的记忆里,原来也有个人一直在等我,原来不知不觉间我成长了这么多。