philosophy of nature-第5章
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perception； in general for an other； but partly just as much for itself Both of these are
determinations which belong to matter precisely because it is the identity of space and time； of
immediate being apart from itself or of becoming。
The transition of ideality into reality is demonstrated therefore in the familiar mechanical
phenomena； namely； that ideality can take the place of reality and vice versa； and only the usual
thoughtlessness of the representation and of the understanding are to blame that； for them； their
identity does not derive from the interchangeability of both。 In connection with the lever； for
example； distance can be posited in the place of mass and vice versa； and a quantum of the ideal
moment produces the same effect as the corresponding real moment。
Similarly； velocity； in the magnitude of motion； the quantitative relationship of space and time；
represents mass； and conversely； the same real effect emerges if the mass is increased and the
velocity proportionately decreased。 By itself a brick does not kill a person； but produces this
effect only though the velocity it achieves； in other words； the person is killed through space and
time。
It is force； a category of reflection fixed by the understanding； which presents itself here as the
ultimate； and therefore prevents understanding and lets it seem superfluous to inquire further after
the concept。 But this at least appears without thought； namely； that the effect of force is something
real and appealing to the senses； and in force there is realised that which is in its expression；
indeed； it appears that force achieves precisely this force of its expression through the relationship
of its ideal moments； of space and time。
Further； it is also in keeping with this nonconceptual reflection that 〃forces' are seen as implanted in
matter； and as originally external to it； so that this very identity of time…and space； which vaguely
appears in the reflective category of force； and which in truth constitutes the essence of matter； is
posited as something alien to it and contingent； something introduced into it from outside。
II
Inorganic Physics
A。 Mechanics … B。 Elementary Physics … C。 The Physics of Individuality
§ 204。
Matter in itself holds itself apart from itself through the moment of its negativity； diversity； or
abstract separation into parts； it has repulsion。 Its being apart from itself is just as essential；
however； because these differences are one and the same： the negative unity of this existence apart
from itself as being for itself； and thus continuous。 Matter therefore has attraction。 The unity of
these moments is gravity。
Kant has； among other things； through the attempt at a “construction” of matter in his
metaphysical elements of the natural sciences； the merit of having started towards a concept of
matter； after it had been attributed merely to the deadness of the understanding and its
determinations had been conceived as the relations of attributes。 With this attempt Kant revived
the concept of the philosophy of nature； which is nothing other than the comprehension of nature
or； what is the same； the knowledge of the concept in nature。 But in so doing he assumed that the
reflective categories of attraction and repulsion were readymade； and further； he presupposed that
the category of the reflection itself out of which matter should emerge； is readymade。 This
confusion is a necessary consequence of Kant's procedure； because the former abstract moments
can not be conceptualised without their identity； moreover； because the observation of these
opposing determinations suspends itself immediately in their identity； there is the danger that they
will appear； like attraction； as a mere continuity。 I have demonstrated in detail the confusion which
dominates Kant's exposition in my system of Logic； vol。 1； part 1； pp。 119ff。
§ 205。
Matter； as having gravity； is only： （1） matter existing in itself or general。 But this concept must： （2）
specify itself； thus it is elementary matter； and the object of elementary physics。 （3） Particular
matter taken together is individualised matter； and the object of physics as the actual world of the
body。
A。
Mechanics
§ 206。
Matter； as simply general； has at first only a quantitative difference； and particularises itself into
different quanta； … masses； which； in the superficial determination of a whole or one； are bodies。
§ 207。
The body is： （1） as heavy matter the solid identity of space and time； but （2） as the first negation it
has in itself their ideality； which differentiates them from each other and from the body。 The body is
essentially in space and time； of which it constitutes its indifferent content in contrast to this form。
§ 208。
（3） As space； in which time is suspended； the body is enduring； and （4） as time； in which the
indifferent subsistence of space is suspended； the body is transitory。 In general； it is a wholly
contingent unit。 （5） But as the unity which binds together the two moments in their opposition； the
body essentially has motion； and the appearance of gravity。
Because the forces have been seen as only implanted onto matter； motion in particular is
considered to be a determination external to the body； even by that physics which is presumably
scientific。 It has thus become a leading axiom of mechanics that the body is set in motion or placed
into a condition only by an external cause。 On the one hand it is the understanding which holds
motion and rest apart as nonconceptual determinations； and therefore does not grasp their
transition into each other； but on the other hand only the selfless bodies of the earth；。 which are the
object of ordinary mechanics； appear in this representation。 The determinations； which occur in the
appearance of such bodies and are valid； are set as the foundation； and the nature of the
independent bodies is subsumed under this category。 In fact； however； the latter are truly more
general and the former is that which is subsumed absolutely； and in absolute mechanics the
concept presents itself in its truth and singularity。
§ 209。
In motion； time posits itself spatially as place； but this indifferent spatiality becomes just as
immediately temporal： the place becomes another （cf § 202）。 This difference of time and space is；
as the difference of their absolute unity and their indifferent content； a difference of bodies； which
hold themselves apart from each other yet equally seek their unity through gravity； — general
gravitation。
§ 210。
Gravitation is the true and determinate concept of material corporeality； which is thereby just as
essentially divided into particular bodies； and which has its manifested existence； the moment of
external individuality； in movement； which is thus determined immediately as a relation of several
bodies。
General gravitation must be recognised for itself as a profound thought； which constitutes an
absolute basis for mechanics if it is conceived initially in the sphere of reflection； though it is so
bound up with it through the quantitative determinations that it has attracted attention and credit；
and its verification has been based solely on the experience analysed from the solar system down
to the phenomenon of the capillary tubes。 Certainly gravitation directly contradicts the law of
inertia； for； by virtue of the former； matter strives to get out of itself to another。 In the concept of
gravity； as has been shown； there are included the two moments of being for itself and of that
continuity that suspends being for itself These moments of the concept now experience the fate； as
particular forces corresponding to the power of attraction and repulsion； of being conceived more
precisely as the centripetal and the centrifugal forces； which are supposed； li
