philosophy of nature-第16章
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determined as being for itself as active consumption）。
§ 286。
This animal stimulation is turned at first against the external potency； which； however； is placed
immediately on the side of the organism by the infection （§ 277）。 But this stimulus； as the antithesis
and the being for itself of the process； has at the same time the determination of externality over
against the generality and simple self…relation of the living organism。 Both aspects together； initially
appearing on the side of the subject as means； actually constitute therefore the object and the
negative side in conflict with the organism； which has to overcome and to digest。
§ 287。
This inversion of attitude is the reflection of the organism into itself the negation of its own
negativity of outwardly directed activity。 As a natural being it combines the individuality which it
reaches in the process with its generality as disjunctive； in such a way that on the one hand it
separates from itself the first negation； the externality of the object and its own activity； on the
other hand； and as immediately identical with this negation； with this means reproduces itself Thus
the outward moving process is transformed and transposed into the first formal processes of
reproduction from its own self。
The primary moment in digestion is the immediate action of life as the power over the inorganic
object； which it sets against itself and presupposes as its stimulating attraction only insofar as it is
itself identical with it。 This action is infection and immediate transformation。 It has been empirically
demonstrated and shown to accord with the concept； by the experiments of Spallanzani and
others and by recent physiology； that this immediacy； which the living organism has as a generality；
continues itself into its food without any further mediation； by its mere contact with it and simply by
taking it up into its own warmth and sphere。 This is a refutation of both the theory of a mechanical；
fictitious sorting out and separating of parts already homogeneous and useful； and the theory of
mediation conceived as a chemical process。 But the investigations of the mediating actions have
not found more specific moments in this transformation （as appears； for example； in vegetable
substances as a series of fermentations）。 On the contrary； they have shown for example that a
great deal of food moves straight from the stomach into the mass of gastric juices； without passing
through other mediating stages； that the pancreatic juice is further nothing more than saliva； that the
pancreas could quite as well be dispensed with； and so on。
The last product； the chyle； which the thoracic duct takes up and which is discharged into the
blood； is the same lymph which is secreted by each intestine and organ； effects the skin and
lymphatic system in the immediate process of transformation； and is everywhere found already
prepared。 The lower organisms of animal life； which； moreover； are nothing more than lymph
coagulated into a membranous point or tube — a simple intestinal canal — do not go beyond this
immediate transformation。 The mediated digestive process in the higher organisations of animal life
is； in respect of its characteristic product； just such a superfluity as； in the plant； the generation of
seeds mediated by 〃sexual difference。〃 The faeces often show； especially in children； in whom
after all the increase of material is most apparent； the greatest part of the food unchanged； mixed
mainly with animal substances； bile； phosphorus； and the like； and the primary action of the
organism to be to overcome and to eliminate its own products。
The syllogism of the organism is not； therefore； the syllogism of external purposiveness； for it does
not stop at directing its activity and form against the outer subject but makes this process； which
because of its externality is on the verge of becoming mechanical and chemical； into an object itself
And since it is nature； in the uniting of itself with itself in its outward process； it is no less a
disjunctive activity； which rids itself of this process； abstracts itself away from its anger towards the
object； from this one…sided subjectivity； and thereby becomes for itself what it is in itself： the
identity of its concept and its reality。 Thus the end and the product of its activity are found to be
that which it already is originally and at the beginning。 In this way the satisfaction accords with
reason： the process outward into external differentiation is converted into the process of the
organism with itself and the result is not the mere production of a means； but of the end。
§ 288。
Through the process with external nature the animal achieves self…certainty and its subjective
concept； truth and objectivity as a single individual。 And it is the production of itself just as much
as its self…preservation； or reproduction as production of its first concept。 Thus the concept joins
together with itself and is； as concrete generality； genus。 The disjunction of the individual finding
itself in the genus is the sexual difference； the relation of the subject to an object which is itself such
a subject。
§ 289。
This relation is the drive： the individual as such is not adequate to its genus； nor does this adequacy
fall into an external reflection。 The individual is at the same time； in this limitation of the genus； the
identical relation of the genus to itself in one unity。 The individual thus has the feeling of this lack
and exists in the natural difference of the sexes。
§ 290。
（3） The process of genus formation has； as in the inorganic process of chemism； taken the general
concept as the essence of individuals to a general extreme。 The tension between the individual and
the inadequacy of its single actuality drives each to have its self…feeling only in the other of its
genus； and to integrate itself through union with the other。 Through this mediation the concrete
generality joins together with itself and yields individual reality。
§ 291。
This product is the negative identity of the differentiated individuals and is； as realised genus； an
asexual life。 But on the side of nature the product is only implicitly this genus and distinct from the
individuals which have perished in it。 It is thus itself an individual which has in itself the
determination of the same difference and transiency。 But at the same time； in this new life in which
individuality is suspended； the same subjectivity is retained positively and in this； its return into itself
the genus as such has emerged for itself in reality； and has become a higher being than nature。
§ 292。
Underlying the various orders and structures of the animals lies the general type of the animal
determined by the concept； which nature manifests partly in the different steps of its development
from the simplest organisation to the most complete； in which it is the instrument of the spirit； and
partly in the different circumstances and conditions of elementary nature。
The concept of the animal has the concept itself as its essence； because it is the actuality of the
idea of life。 The nature of its generality enables it to have a simpler and more developed existence
which corresponds more or less to it。 Thus the concept in its determinacy can not be grasped from
existence itself。 The classes； in which it emerges developed and manifested completely in its
moments； appear as a particular existence in contrast to the others； and can also have a bad
existence in them。 The concept is already presupposed for the judgment of whether the existence
is bad。 If； as usual； existence is presupposed； then it will undoubtedly be used in an empirical way
to reach no fixed determination； and all particular attributes will also seem to be lacking。
Acephalous animals； for example； have been used as proof that people can live without brains。
Zoology； like the natural sci
