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第49章

the critique of pure reason-第49章

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never could be possible; if we admitted the possibility that new

things (in respect of their substance) should arise。 For in that case;

we should lose altogether that which alone can represent the unity

of time; to wit; the identity of the substratum; as that through which

alone all change possesses complete and thorough unity。 This

permanence is; however; nothing but the manner in which we represent

to ourselves the existence of things in the phenomenal world。



  *'Persius; Satirae; iii。83…84。 〃Nothing can be produced from

nothing; nothing can be returned into nothing。〃'



  The determinations of a substance; which are only particular modes

of its existence; are called accidents。 They are always real;

because they concern the existence of substance (negations are only

determinations; which express the non…existence of something in the

substance)。 Now; if to this real in the substance we ascribe a

particular existence (for example; to motion as an accident of

matter); this existence is called inherence; in contradistinction to

the existence of substance; which we call subsistence。 But hence arise

many misconceptions; and it would be a more accurate and just mode

of expression to designate the accident only as the mode in which

the existence of a substance is positively determined。 Meanwhile; by

reason of the conditions of the logical exercise of our understanding;

it is impossible to avoid separating; as it were; that which in the

existence of a substance is subject to change; whilst the substance

remains; and regarding it in relation to that which is properly

permanent and radical。 On this account; this category of substance

stands under the title of relation; rather because it is the condition

thereof than because it contains in itself any relation。

  Now; upon this notion of permanence rests the proper notion of the

conception change。 Origin and extinction are not changes of that which

originates or becomes extinct。 Change is but a mode of existence;

which follows on another mode of existence of the same object; hence

all that changes is permanent; and only the condition thereof changes。

Now since this mutation affects only determinations; which can have

a beginning or an end; we may say; employing an expression which seems

somewhat paradoxical: 〃Only the permanent (substance) is subject to

change; the mutable suffers no change; but rather alternation; that

is; when certain determinations cease; others begin。〃

  Change; when; cannot be perceived by us except in substances; and

origin or extinction in an absolute sense; that does not concern

merely a determination of the permanent; cannot be a possible

perception; for it is this very notion of the permanent which

renders possible the representation of a transition from one state

into another; and from non…being to being; which; consequently; can be

empirically cognized only as alternating determinations of that

which is permanent。 Grant that a thing absolutely begins to be; we

must then have a point of time in which it was not。 But how and by

what can we fix and determine this point of time; unless by that which

already exists? For a void time… preceding… is not an object of

perception; but if we connect this beginning with objects which

existed previously; and which continue to exist till the object in

question in question begins to be; then the latter can only be a

determination of the former as the permanent。 The same holds good of

the notion of extinction; for this presupposes the empirical

representation of a time; in which a phenomenon no longer exists。

  Substances (in the world of phenomena) are the substratum of all

determinations of time。 The beginning of some; and the ceasing to be

of other substances; would utterly do away with the only condition

of the empirical unity of time; and in that case phenomena would

relate to two different times; in which; side by side; existence would

pass; which is absurd。 For there is only one time in which all

different times must be placed; not as coexistent; but as successive。

  Accordingly; permanence is a necessary condition under which alone

phenomena; as things or objects; are determinable in a possible

experience。 But as regards the empirical criterion of this necessary

permanence; and with it of the substantiality of phenomena; we shall

find sufficient opportunity to speak in the sequel。



                   B。 SECOND ANALOGY。



      Principle of the Succession of Time According

                to the Law of Causality。



     All changes take place according to the law of the

              connection of Cause and Effect。



                         PROOF。



  (That all phenomena in the succession of time are only changes; that

is; a successive being and non…being of the determinations of

substance; which is permanent; consequently that a being of

substance itself which follows on the non…being thereof; or a

non…being of substance which follows on the being thereof; in other

words; that the origin or extinction of substance itself; is

impossible… all this has been fully established in treating of the

foregoing principle。 This principle might have been expressed as

follows: 〃All alteration (succession) of phenomena is merely

change〃; for the changes of substance are not origin or extinction;

because the conception of change presupposes the same subject as

existing with two opposite determinations; and consequently as

permanent。 After this premonition; we shall proceed to the proof。)

  I perceive that phenomena succeed one another; that is to say; a

state of things exists at one time; the opposite of which existed in a

former state。 In this case; then; I really connect together two

perceptions in time。 Now connection is not an operation of mere

sense and intuition; but is the product of a synthetical faculty of

imagination; which determines the internal sense in respect of a

relation of time。 But imagination can connect these two states in

two ways; so that either the one or the other may antecede in time;

for time in itself cannot be an object of perception; and what in an

object precedes and what follows cannot be empirically determined in

relation to it。 I am only conscious; then; that my imagination

places one state before and the other after; not that the one state

antecedes the other in the object。 In other words; the objective

relation of the successive phenomena remains quite undetermined by

means of mere perception。 Now in order that this relation may be

cognized as determined; the relation between the two states must be so

cogitated that it is thereby determined as necessary; which of them

must be placed before and which after; and not conversely。 But the

conception which carries with it a necessity of synthetical unity; can

be none other than a pure conception of the understanding which does

not lie in mere perception; and in this case it is the conception of

〃the relation of cause and effect;〃 the former of which determines the

latter in time; as its necessary consequence; and not as something

which might possibly antecede (or which might in some cases not be

perceived to follow)。 It follows that it is only because we subject

the sequence of phenomena; and consequently all change; to the law

of causality; that experience itself; that is; empirical cognition

of phenomena; becomes possible; and consequently; that phenomena

themselves; as objects of experience; are possible only by virtue of

this law。

  Our apprehension of the manifold of phenomena is always

successive。 The representations of parts succeed one another。

Whether they succeed one another in the object also; is a second point

for reflection; which was not contained in the former。 Now we may

certainly give the name of object to everything; even to every

representation; so far as we are conscious thereof; but what this word

may mean in the case of phenomena; not merely in so far as they (as

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