philosophy of nature-第11章
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resistance； which is merely an external vibration； make only a noise。
§ 244。
This individuality； since it is at first here only immediate； can be suspended by mechanical force。
The friction； which brings together that difference of corporeality held apart by cohesion in the
negativity of a temporal moment； causes an initial or concluding selfdestruction of the body to
break forth。 And the body exhibits its specific nature； in the relationship between the inner change
and the suspension of its cohesion； through the capacity for heat。
（b） The Particularisation of Differences
§ 245。
Shaping； the individualisation of the mechanism or of weight； turns into elemental particularisation。
The individual body has the totality of the elements within itself； as the subject of the same the
body contains the elements in the first place as attributes or predicates； but in the second place
these are retained only in immediate individuality； and thus they exist also as materials indifferent to
each other。 Thirdly； they are the relations to the unbound elements and the processes of the
individual body with those elements。
In connection with the ancient； general idea that each body consists of the four elements； or with
the more recent view of Paracelsus that it consists of mercury or liquid； sulphur or oil； and salt； and
with many other ideas of this kind； it is to be remarked first that it is easy to refute these names if
one understands by them only the particular empirical substances that they primarily denote。 It is；
however； not to be overlooked that these names were meant much more essentially to contain and
to express the determinations of the concept。 Thus we should rather wonder at the vehemence
with which thought recognised only its own determination in such sensory things and held fast to its
general significance。 On the other hand； such a conception and determination； since it has reason
as its source…which neither loses its way in the sensory games of phenomena and their confusion；
nor allows itself to be brought to forget itself…is elevated infinitely far above the thoughtless
investigation and chaotic narrative of the bodies' attributes。 Here it is counted as a service and
praiseworthy to have made yet another particular discovery； instead of referring the many
particulars back to generality and the concept； and recognising the latter in them。
§ 246。
The body individualises： （a） the external self of light in its darkness into its specific opacity； colour；
（b） air； as abstract； selfless generality into the simplicity of its specific process； or； as odour； is
rather the specific individuality of the body in its simplicity； itself only as process； （c） water； the
abstract neutrality； is individualised into the determinate neutrality of saltiness； acidity； and；
immediately； into taste。
§ 247。
These particularised bodies are； in their general earthly totality； in the first place only superficially
related to one another and preserve their independence by being isolated from each other。 But as
individuals they also stand in relation to each other and； to be sure； outside of the mechanical
relationship as particular individualities。
§ 248。
At first these bodies relate to each other as independent entities； but they then become manifest as
a mechanical relationship in an ideal movement； in the internal reverberation as sound。 Now；
however； in real selfhood； they emerge as an electrical relationship to each other。
§ 249。
The being for itself of these bodies； as it is manifested in physical contact； is posited in each by the
difference from the other。 Thus this being is not free； but rather an antithetical tension； in which；
however； it is not the nature of the body which emerges： only the reality of its abstract self a light；
is produced and； in fact； as a light set in opposition。 The suspension of the diremption； the other
moment of this process； has an undifferentiated light as its product； which disappears immediately
as incorporeal。 Apart from this abstract physical manifestation； the process has only the
mechanical effect of shaking as a significant outcome。
It is well…known that the earlier distinction between vitreous and resinous electricity； determined as
a part of sensory existence； was idealised by empirical science into the conceptual distinction
between positive and negative electricity。 This is a remarkable instance of the way in which
empiricism； which initially attempts to grasp and retain generality in sensory form； suspends itself。
Although there has been much discussion recently of the polarisation of light； it would have been
more appropriate to reserve this expression for electricity than for the phenomena observed by
Malus； where transparent media； reflecting surfaces； and their various reciprocal inclinations； as
well as a determinate corner of light； are actually so many different kinds of situations； which
produces no difference in light itself but does show itself in light's shining。
The conditions under which positive and negative electricity emerge； in relation to smoother or
rougher surfaces； for example； a breath of air； and so on； are proof of the superficiality of the
electrical process； and show how little the concrete； physical nature of the body enters into it。
Similarly； the weak coloration of the two electrical lights； and the smell and the taste of them； show
only the beginning of a physicality in the abstract self of the light in which the process is maintained。
Negativity； the suspension of the antithetical tension； is mainly a shock。 The self…positing；
self…identical self remains as such and consistent in the ideal spheres of space； time； and
mechanism。 Light has scarcely begun to materialise itself as warmth； and the combustion which can
arise from the 〃discharge〃 is （Berthollet； Statique chimique； part I； sect。 III； not。 XI） rather a
direct effect of shock than the consequences of the realisation of light as fire。
Galvanism is the electrical process made permanent； it is permanence as the contact between two
different； non…brittle bodies； which； as part of their fluid nature （the 〃electrical conductive potential〃
of metal）； their entire immediate difference towards each other； and the surface qualities of their
relationship； maintain their tension mutually。 The galvanic process occurs only through this
particular specificity of bodies of a more concrete and corporeal nature； and subsequently
undergoes a transition to the chemical process。
§ 250。
The individuality of the body is the negative unity of the concept； which is not self…positing simply
as an immediate entity and an unmoved generality； but only in the mediation of the process。 The
body is therefore a product； and its shape a presupposition； for which the end that it will ultimately
achieve is also presupposed。 The particularisation of the body； however； does not stop at either
mere inert diversity or the opposition between different attributes and their tension within the
body's pure selfhood。 Rather； since the particular attributes are only the reality of this simple
concept； the body of their soul； of light； the entire corporeality moves into tension and the process
which is the development of the individual body； a process of isolation； — the chemical process。
（c） The Process of Isolation
§ 251。
The chemical process has its products as a presupposition； and therefore begins （1） from the
immediacy of their presupposition。 In accord with the concept； the particular body is immediate
insofar as its attributes or material components are unified together into a simple determination and
become equal in the simplicity of specific gravity； thickness。 Metals are solid； but in terms of their
particularity become fluid and capable of maintaining a determinate difference towards each other。
