贝壳电子书 > 基础科学电子书 > the+critique+of+practical+reason >

第32章

the+critique+of+practical+reason-第32章

小说: the+critique+of+practical+reason 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



with part of the containing notion; but not with the whole; and
moreover two wholes may be specifically distinct; although they
consist of the same parts; namely if the parts are united into a whole
in totally different ways。 The Stoic maintained that the virtue was
the whole summum bonum; and happiness only the consciousness of
possessing it; as making part of the state of the subject。 The
Epicurean maintained that happiness was the whole summum bonum; and
virtue only the form of the maxim for its pursuit; viz。; the
rational use of the means for attaining it。
  Now it is clear from the Analytic that the maxims of virtue and
those of private happiness are quite heterogeneous as to their supreme
practical principle; and; although they belong to one summum bonum
which together they make possible; yet they are so far from coinciding
that they restrict and check one another very much in the same
subject。 Thus the question: 〃How is the summum bonum practically
possible?〃 still remains an unsolved problem; notwithstanding all
the attempts at coalition that have hitherto been made。 The Analytic
has; however; shown what it is that makes the problem difficult to
solve; namely; that happiness and morality are two specifically
distinct elements of the summum bonum and; therefore; their
bination cannot be analytically cognised (as if the man that
seeks his own happiness should find by mere analysis of his conception
that in so acting he is virtuous; or as if the man that follows virtue
should in the consciousness of such conduct find that he is already
happy ipso facto); but must be a synthesis of concepts。 Now since this
bination is recognised as a priori; and therefore as practically
necessary; and consequently not as derived from experience; so that
the possibility of the summum bonum does not rest on any empirical
principle; it follows that the deduction 'legitimation' of this
concept must be transcendental。 It is a priori (morally) necessary
to produce the summum bonum by freedom of will: therefore the
condition of its possibility must rest solely on a priori principles
of cognition。

          I。 The Antinomy of Practical Reason。

  In the summum bonum which is practical for us; i。e。; to be
realized by our will; virtue and happiness are thought as
necessarily bined; so that the one cannot be assumed by pure
practical reason without the other also being attached to it。 Now this
bination (like every other) is either analytical or synthetical。 It
bas been shown that it cannot be analytical; it must then be
synthetical and; more particularly; must be conceived as the
connection of cause and effect; since it concerns a practical good;
i。e。; one that is possible by means of action; consequently either the
desire of happiness must be the motive to maxims of virtue; or the
maxim of virtue must be the efficient cause of happiness。 The first is
absolutely impossible; because (as was proved in the Analytic)
maxims which place the determining principle of the will in the desire
of personal happiness are not moral at all; and no virtue can be
founded on them。 But the second is also impossible; because the
practical connection of causes and effects in the world; as the result
of the determination of the will; does not depend upon the moral
dispositions of the will; but on the knowledge of the laws of nature
and the physical power to use them for one's purposes; consequently we
cannot expect in the world by the most punctilious observance of the
moral laws any necessary connection of happiness with virtue
adequate to the summum bonum。 Now; as the promotion of this summum
bonum; the conception of which contains this connection; is a priori a
necessary object of our will and inseparably attached to the moral
law; the impossibility of the former must prove the falsity of the
latter。 If then the supreme good is not possible by practical rules;
then the moral law also which mands us to promote it is directed to
vain imaginary ends and must consequently be false。

   II。 Critical Solution of the Antinomy of Practical Reason。

  The antinomy of pure speculative reason exhibits a similar
conflict between freedom and physical necessity in the causality of
events in the world。 It was solved by showing that there is no real
contradiction when the events and even the world in which they occur
are regarded (as they ought to be) merely as appearances; since one
and the same acting being; as an appearance (even to his own inner
sense); has a causality in the world of sense that always conforms
to the mechanism of nature; but with respect to the same events; so
far as the acting person regards himself at the same time as a
noumenon (as pure intelligence in an existence not dependent on the
condition of time); he can contain a principle by which that causality
acting according to laws of nature is determined; but which is
itself free from all laws of nature。
  It is just the same with the foregoing antinomy of pure practical
reason。 The first of the two propositions; 〃That the endeavour after
happiness produces a virtuous mind;〃 is absolutely false; but the
second; 〃That a virtuous mind necessarily produces happiness;〃 is
not absolutely false; but only in so far as virtue is considered as
a form of causality in the sensible world; and consequently only if
I suppose existence in it to be the only sort of existence of a
rational being; it is then only conditionally false。 But as I am not
only justified in thinking that I exist also as a noumenon in a
world of the understanding; but even have in the moral law a purely
intellectual determining principle of my causality (in the sensible
world); it is not impossible that morality of mind should have a
connection as cause with happiness (as an effect in the sensible
world) if not immediate yet mediate (viz。; through an intelligent
author of nature); and moreover necessary; while in a system of nature
which is merely an object of the senses; this bination could
never occur except contingently and; therefore; could not suffice
for the summum bonum。
  Thus; notwithstanding this seeming conflict of practical reason with
itself; the summum bonum; which is the necessary supreme end of a will
morally determined; is a true object thereof; for it is practically
possible; and the maxims of the will which as regards their matter
refer to it have objective reality; which at first was threatened by
the antinomy that appeared in the connection of morality with
happiness by a general law; but this was merely from a
misconception; because the relation between appearances was taken
for a relation of the things in themselves to these appearances。
  When we find ourselves obliged to go so far; namely; to the
connection with an intelligible world; to find the possibility of
the summum bonum; which reason points out to all rational beings as
the goal of all their moral wishes; it must seem strange that;
nevertheless; the philosophers both of ancient and modern times have
been able to find happiness in accurate proportion to virtue even in
this life (in the sensible world); or have persuaded themselves that
they were conscious thereof。 For Epicurus as well as the Stoics
extolled above everything the happiness that springs from the
consciousness of living virtuously; and the former was not so base
in his practical precepts as one might infer from the principles of
his theory; which he used for explanation and not for action; or as
they were interpreted by many who were misled by his using the term
pleasure for contentment; on the contrary; he reckoned the most
disinterested practice of good amongst the ways of enjoying the most
intimate delight; and his scheme of pleasure (by which he meant
constant cheerfulness of mind) included the moderation and control
of the inclinations; such as the strictest moral philosopher might
require。 He differed from the Stoics chiefly in making this pleasure
the motive; which they very rightly refused to do。 For; on the one
hand; the virtuous Epicurus; like many well…intentioned men of this
day who do not reflect deeply enough on their principles; fell into
the error of presupposing the virtuo

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的