philosophy of nature-第8章
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of reflection； the compound； was seized upon； so that brightness here could consist of seven
darknesses； or water could consist of seven forms of earth。 Further； the ineptitude； tastelessness；
even dishonesty of Newton's observations and experimentations must be addressed； as well as the
equally bad tendency to draw inferences； conclusions； and proofs from impure empirical data。
Moreover； the blindness of the admiration given to Newton's work for nearly one and a half
centuries must be noted； the narrowmindedness of those admirers who defend his conceptions；
and； in particular； the thoughtlessness with which a number of the immediate conclusions of that
theory （for example； the impossibility of an achromatic telescope） were dropped； although the
theory itself is still maintained。 Finally； there is the blindness of the prejudice that the theory rests
on something mathematical； as if the partly false and one…sided measurements； as well as the
quantitative determinations brought into the conclusions； would provide any basis for the theory
and the nature of the thing itself。…A major reason why the clear； thorough； and learned illumination
by Goethe of this darkness concerning light has not had a more effective reception is doubtlessly
because the thoughtlessness and simplemindedness； which one would have to confess for
following Newton for so long； would be entirely too great。
Instead of these nonsensical conceptions disappearing； they have recently been compounded by
the discoveries of Malus； by the idea of a polarisation of light； the notion of the four…sidedness of
sunbeams； and the idea that red beams rotate in a movement to the left； whereas blue beams
rotate in a movement to the right。 Such simplistic ideas seem justified by the privilege accorded to
physics to generate 〃hypotheses。〃 But even as a joke one does not indulge in stupidities； thus so
much the less should stupidities be offered as hypotheses which are not even meant to be jokes。
§ 222。
Light shapes the determinate being or the physical meaning of the body of abstract centrality in the
determination of its identity。 Light is the active identity which posits everything as identical。 As this
identity； however； is still wholly abstract； things are not yet really identical； but are for an other；
positing their identity with the other in the other。
§ 223。
This abstract identity has its real antithesis outside of itself。 As an elementary moment of reflection
it falls apart into itself and is as a duality： （a） of corporeal diversity； of material being for itself of
rigidity； （b） of opposition as such； which； existing independently and uncontrolled by individuality；
has merely sunken within itself and is thus dissolution and neutrality。 The former is the lunar； the
latter is the cometary body。
As relative central bodies in the system of gravity these two bodies have their more specific
significance； which is based on the same concept as their physical significance and may be stated
here： they do not rotate on their axes。 The body of rigidity has only a formal being for itself which
is independence comprehended in antithesis and therefore not individuality。 Hence it is subservient
to another body whose satellite it is； and in which it has its axis。 The body of dissolution； on the
other hand； the opposite of the body of rigidity； behaves aberrantly； and exhibits contingency in its
eccentric path as in its physical existence。 One can therefore suspect of these bodies that the
proximity of a large planet could change their course。 They show themselves to be a superficial
concretion； which may just contingently turn itself again into dust。
The moon has no atmosphere and therefore lacks the meteorological process。 It shows only high
mountains and craters； and the combustion of this rigidity in itself It has the shape of a crystal；
which Heim （one of the few ingenious geologists） has described as the original form of the earth as
a merely solid body。
The comet appears as a formal process and unstable mass of vapour； none of them has exhibited
anything of a solid nature； such as a nucleus。 In contrast to the image of the ancients； that comets
are merely meteors； more recent astronomers have not been as inflexible and presumptuous。 Until
now only the return of some of them has been demonstrated； others were calculated to return； but
did not arrive。 Suggestions brought forward by astronomers also indicate that the previously held
formal view of comets； as crisscross manifestations appearing in conflict with the coherence of the
system； should in time be discarded。 Then the idea could be accepted that the other bodies of the
system protect themselves against comets； that is； that the other bodies of the system function as
necessary organic moments of protection。 This view would afford better grounds for comfort in
regards to the dangers of comets than the reasons which have been adduced so far。
§ 224。
（3） The antithesis that has gone back into itself is the earth or the planet as such。 It is the body of
the individual totality； in which rigidity opens up into a separation of real differences； and this
dissolution is held together by self…like points of unity。
One is accustomed to seeing the sun and the stars as more excellent natures than the planets；
because the first elevation of the reflection above sensory perception sets the abstract as the
highest point against that individual element which is not yet conceptualised。 The name of a 〃mad
star〃 has arisen for individual bodies from the immediate view of their motion。 In and for itself
however； this motion of the individual bodies as a turning on an axis around itself and also around
a central body is the most concrete expression of vitality； and therefore more splendid than both
the stillness in the centre of the system； and the subservient and extravagant motion of the lunar
and cometary bodies。 The natural light of the central body is equally its abstract identity； with its
truth； like that of thought； in the concrete idea； in individuality。
In regards to the series of planets； astronomy has still not discovered any actual law governing the
determination of their proximity； their distancing； or even anything rational…I no longer find
satisfying what I tried to show in an earlier dissertation about this issue。…Moreover； the attempts by
the philosophy of nature to demonstrate the rationality of the series in its physical constitution；
which have until now been merely preliminary attempts to establish basic perspectives； can also be
viewed as unsatisfactory。 What is irrational is to establish the thought of contingency as the basis；
and to see the idea of the organisation of the solar system according to the laws of musical
harmony； as for example in Kepler's thought； as an imaginative confusion； and not to respect the
profound belief that
there is reason in this system。 For this belief was the sole basis of Kepler's discoveries。 Instead； it
was the wholly awkward and confused use of the numerical relations of tones； applied by Newton
to colours； which acquired fame and remembrance。
（b。） The Elements
§ 225。
The body of individuality contains the determinations of elemental totality； which have an
immediate existence as free； independent bodies； as subordinate moments。 As such they constitute
general physical elements。
§ 226。
（1） The element of undifferentiated simplicity is no longer the positive identity with itself the
self…manifestation which is light as such； which constitutes the proper； inner self of the individual
body； on the contrary； it is only a negative generality as the selfless moment of an other。 This
identity is therefore the seemingly harmless but insidious and consuming power of the individual
and organic process。 This element； air； behaves as a transparent but just as elastic fluid； which
absorbs and penetrates everything。
§ 227。
（2） The eleme
