reason£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡seemingly¡¡infinite¡¡diversity¡¡of¡¡phenomena
should¡¡not¡¡deter¡¡us¡¡from¡¡the¡¡expectation¡¡of¡¡discovering¡¡beneath¡¡this
diversity¡¡a¡¡unity¡¡of¡¡fundamental¡¡properties£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡aforesaid
variety¡¡is¡¡but¡¡a¡¡more¡¡or¡¡less¡¡determined¡¡form¡£¡¡This¡¡unity£»¡¡although
a¡¡mere¡¡idea£»¡¡thinkers¡¡have¡¡found¡¡it¡¡necessary¡¡rather¡¡to¡¡moderate¡¡the
desire¡¡than¡¡to¡¡encourage¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡considered¡¡a¡¡great¡¡step¡¡when
chemists¡¡were¡¡able¡¡to¡¡reduce¡¡all¡¡salts¡¡to¡¡two¡¡main¡¡genera¡¡¡acids¡¡and
alkalis£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡regard¡¡this¡¡difference¡¡as¡¡itself¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡variety£»
or¡¡different¡¡manifestation¡¡of¡¡one¡¡and¡¡the¡¡same¡¡fundamental¡¡material¡£
The¡¡different¡¡kinds¡¡of¡¡earths¡¡£¨stones¡¡and¡¡even¡¡metals£©¡¡chemists¡¡have
endeavoured¡¡to¡¡reduce¡¡to¡¡three£»¡¡and¡¡afterwards¡¡to¡¡two£»¡¡but¡¡still£»
not¡¡content¡¡with¡¡this¡¡advance£»¡¡they¡¡cannot¡¡but¡¡think¡¡that¡¡behind¡¡these
diversities¡¡there¡¡lurks¡¡but¡¡one¡¡genus¡¡¡nay£»¡¡that¡¡even¡¡salts¡¡and¡¡earths
have¡¡a¡¡common¡¡principle¡£¡¡It¡¡might¡¡be¡¡conjectured¡¡that¡¡this¡¡is¡¡merely
an¡¡economical¡¡plan¡¡of¡¡reason£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡sparing¡¡itself
trouble£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡attempt¡¡of¡¡a¡¡purely¡¡hypothetical¡¡character£»¡¡which£»
when¡¡successful£»¡¡gives¡¡an¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡probability¡¡to¡¡the¡¡principle
of¡¡explanation¡¡employed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡reason¡£¡¡But¡¡a¡¡selfish¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡this
kind¡¡is¡¡easily¡¡to¡¡be¡¡distinguished¡¡from¡¡the¡¡idea£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡which
every¡¡one¡¡presupposes¡¡that¡¡this¡¡unity¡¡is¡¡in¡¡accordance¡¡with¡¡the¡¡laws
of¡¡nature£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡reason¡¡does¡¡not¡¡in¡¡this¡¡case¡¡request£»¡¡but
requires£»¡¡although¡¡we¡¡are¡¡quite¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡determine¡¡the¡¡proper
limits¡¡of¡¡this¡¡unity¡£
¡¡¡¡If¡¡the¡¡diversity¡¡existing¡¡in¡¡phenomena¡¡¡a¡¡diversity¡¡not¡¡of¡¡form¡¡£¨for
in¡¡this¡¡they¡¡may¡¡be¡¡similar£©¡¡but¡¡of¡¡content¡¡¡were¡¡so¡¡great¡¡that¡¡the
subtlest¡¡human¡¡reason¡¡could¡¡never¡¡by¡¡comparison¡¡discover¡¡in¡¡them¡¡the
least¡¡similarity¡¡£¨which¡¡is¡¡not¡¡impossible£©£»¡¡in¡¡this¡¡case¡¡the¡¡logical
law¡¡of¡¡genera¡¡would¡¡be¡¡without¡¡foundation£»¡¡the¡¡conception¡¡of¡¡a
genus£»¡¡nay£»¡¡all¡¡general¡¡conceptions¡¡would¡¡be¡¡impossible£»¡¡and¡¡the
faculty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡understanding£»¡¡the¡¡exercise¡¡of¡¡which¡¡is¡¡restricted¡¡to
the¡¡world¡¡of¡¡conceptions£»¡¡could¡¡not¡¡exist¡£¡¡The¡¡logical¡¡principle¡¡of
genera£»¡¡accordingly£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡applied¡¡to¡¡nature¡¡£¨by¡¡which¡¡I¡¡mean
objects¡¡presented¡¡to¡¡our¡¡senses£©£»¡¡presupposes¡¡a¡¡transcendental
principle¡£¡¡In¡¡accordance¡¡with¡¡this¡¡principle£»¡¡homogeneity¡¡is
necessarily¡¡presupposed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡variety¡¡of¡¡phenomena¡¡£¨although¡¡we¡¡are
unable¡¡to¡¡determine¡¡a¡¡priori¡¡the¡¡degree¡¡of¡¡this¡¡homogeneity£©£»
because¡¡without¡¡it¡¡no¡¡empirical¡¡conceptions£»¡¡and¡¡consequently¡¡no
experience£»¡¡would¡¡be¡¡possible¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡logical¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡genera£»¡¡which¡¡demands¡¡identity¡¡in
phenomena£»¡¡is¡¡balanced¡¡by¡¡another¡¡principle¡¡¡that¡¡of¡¡species£»¡¡which
requires¡¡variety¡¡and¡¡diversity¡¡in¡¡things£»¡¡notwithstanding¡¡their
accordance¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡genus£»¡¡and¡¡directs¡¡the¡¡understanding¡¡to
attend¡¡to¡¡the¡¡one¡¡no¡¡less¡¡than¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡This¡¡principle¡¡£¨of¡¡the
faculty¡¡of¡¡distinction£©¡¡acts¡¡as¡¡a¡¡check¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡reason¡¡and¡¡reason
exhibits¡¡in¡¡this¡¡respect¡¡a¡¡double¡¡and¡¡conflicting¡¡interest¡¡¡on¡¡the¡¡one
hand£»¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡the¡¡extent¡¡£¨the¡¡interest¡¡of¡¡generality£©¡¡in
relation¡¡to¡¡genera£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡content¡¡£¨the¡¡interest¡¡of
individuality£©¡¡in¡¡relation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡variety¡¡of¡¡species¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡former
case£»¡¡the¡¡understanding¡¡cogitates¡¡more¡¡under¡¡its¡¡conceptions£»¡¡in¡¡the
latter¡¡it¡¡cogitates¡¡more¡¡in¡¡them¡£¡¡This¡¡distinction¡¡manifests¡¡itself
likewise¡¡in¡¡the¡¡habits¡¡of¡¡thought¡¡peculiar¡¡to¡¡natural¡¡philosophers£»
some¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡¡the¡¡remarkably¡¡speculative¡¡heads¡¡¡may¡¡be¡¡said¡¡to¡¡be
hostile¡¡to¡¡heterogeneity¡¡in¡¡phenomena£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡always
fixed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡unity¡¡of¡¡genera£»¡¡while¡¡others¡¡¡with¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡empirical
tendency¡¡¡aim¡¡unceasingly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡analysis¡¡of¡¡phenomena£»¡¡and¡¡almost
destroy¡¡in¡¡us¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡ever¡¡being¡¡able¡¡to¡¡estimate¡¡the¡¡character¡¡of
these¡¡according¡¡to¡¡general¡¡principles¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡latter¡¡mode¡¡of¡¡thought¡¡is¡¡evidently¡¡based¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡logical
principle£»¡¡the¡¡aim¡¡of¡¡which¡¡is¡¡the¡¡systematic¡¡completeness¡¡of¡¡all
cognitions¡£¡¡This¡¡principle¡¡authorizes¡¡me£»¡¡beginning¡¡at¡¡the¡¡genus£»¡¡to
descend¡¡to¡¡the¡¡various¡¡and¡¡diverse¡¡contained¡¡under¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way
extension£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡the¡¡former¡¡case¡¡unity£»¡¡is¡¡assured¡¡to¡¡the¡¡system¡£
For¡¡if¡¡we¡¡merely¡¡examine¡¡the¡¡sphere¡¡of¡¡the¡¡conception¡¡which
indicates¡¡a¡¡genus£»¡¡we¡¡cannot¡¡discover¡¡how¡¡far¡¡it¡¡is¡¡possible¡¡to
proceed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡division¡¡of¡¡that¡¡sphere£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡it¡¡is¡¡impossible£»¡¡from
the¡¡consideration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡space¡¡occupied¡¡by¡¡matter£»¡¡to¡¡determine¡¡how
far¡¡we¡¡can¡¡proceed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡division¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡Hence¡¡every¡¡genus¡¡must
contain¡¡different¡¡species£»¡¡and¡¡these¡¡again¡¡different¡¡subspecies£»¡¡and
as¡¡each¡¡of¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡must¡¡itself¡¡contain¡¡a¡¡sphere¡¡£¨must¡¡be¡¡of¡¡a
certain¡¡extent£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡conceptus¡¡communis£©£»¡¡reason¡¡demands¡¡that¡¡no
species¡¡or¡¡sub¡species¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡considered¡¡as¡¡the¡¡lowest¡¡possible¡£¡¡For
a¡¡species¡¡or¡¡sub¡species£»¡¡being¡¡always¡¡a¡¡conception£»¡¡which¡¡contains
only¡¡what¡¡is¡¡common¡¡to¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡different¡¡things£»¡¡does¡¡not
completely¡¡determine¡¡any¡¡individual¡¡thing£»¡¡or¡¡relate¡¡immediately¡¡to
it£»¡¡and¡¡must¡¡consequently¡¡contain¡¡other¡¡conceptions£»¡¡that¡¡is£»¡¡other
sub¡species¡¡under¡¡it¡£¡¡This¡¡law¡¡of¡¡specification¡¡may¡¡be¡¡thus¡¡expressed£º
entium¡¡varietates¡¡non¡¡temere¡¡sunt¡¡minuendae¡£
¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡this¡¡logical¡¡law¡¡would¡¡likewise¡¡be
without¡¡sense¡¡or¡¡application£»¡¡were¡¡it¡¡not¡¡based¡¡upon¡¡a
transcendental¡¡law¡¡of¡¡specification£»¡¡which¡¡certainly¡¡does¡¡not
require¡¡that¡¡the¡¡differences¡¡existing¡¡phenomena¡¡should¡¡be¡¡infinite
in¡¡number£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡logical¡¡principle£»¡¡which¡¡merely¡¡maintains¡¡the
indeterminateness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡logical¡¡sphere¡¡of¡¡a¡¡conception£»¡¡in¡¡relation
to¡¡its¡¡possible¡¡division£»¡¡does¡¡not¡¡authorize¡¡this¡¡statement£»¡¡while
it¡¡does¡¡impose¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡understanding¡¡the¡¡duty¡¡of¡¡searching¡¡for
subspecies¡¡to¡¡every¡¡species£»¡¡and¡¡minor¡¡differences¡¡in¡¡every
difference¡£¡¡For£»¡¡were¡¡there¡¡no¡¡lower¡¡conceptions£»¡¡neither¡¡could
there¡¡be¡¡any¡¡higher¡£¡¡Now¡¡the¡¡understanding¡¡cognizes¡¡only¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of
conceptions£»¡¡consequently£»¡¡how¡¡far¡¡soever¡¡it¡¡may¡¡proceed¡¡in
division£»¡¡never¡¡by¡¡mere¡¡intuition£»¡¡but¡¡always¡¡by¡¡lower¡¡and¡¡lower
conceptions¡£¡¡The¡¡cognition¡¡of¡¡phenomena¡¡in¡¡their¡¡complete
determination¡¡£¨which¡¡is¡¡possible¡¡only¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡the¡¡understanding£©
requires¡¡an¡¡unceasingly¡¡continued¡¡specification¡¡of¡¡conceptions£»¡¡and
a¡¡progression¡¡to¡¡ever¡¡smaller¡¡differences£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡abstraction¡¡bad
been¡¡made¡¡in¡¡the¡¡conception¡¡of¡¡the¡¡species£»¡¡and¡¡still¡¡more¡¡in¡¡that
of¡¡the¡¡genus¡£
¡¡¡¡This¡¡law¡¡of¡¡specification¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡deduced¡¡from¡¡experience£»¡¡it
can¡¡never¡¡present¡¡us¡¡with¡¡a¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡so¡¡universal¡¡an
application¡£¡¡Empirical¡¡specification¡¡very¡¡soon¡¡stops¡¡in¡¡its
distinction¡¡of¡¡diversities£»¡¡and¡¡requires¡¡the¡¡guidance¡¡of¡¡the
transcendental¡¡law£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡reason¡¡¡a¡¡law¡¡which
imposes¡¡on¡¡us¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡of¡¡never¡¡ceasing¡¡in¡¡our¡¡search¡¡for
differences£»¡¡even¡¡although¡¡these¡¡may¡¡not¡¡present¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡the
senses¡£¡¡That¡¡absorbent¡¡earths¡¡are¡¡of¡¡different¡¡kinds¡¡could¡¡only¡¡be
discovered¡¡by¡¡obeying¡¡the¡¡anticipatory¡¡law¡¡of¡¡reason£»¡¡which¡¡imposes
upon¡¡the¡¡understanding¡¡the¡¡task¡¡of¡¡discovering¡¡the¡¡differences
existing¡¡between¡¡these¡¡earths£»¡¡and¡¡supposes¡¡that¡¡nature¡¡is¡¡richer¡¡in
substances¡¡than¡¡our¡¡senses¡¡would¡¡indicate¡£¡¡The¡¡faculty¡¡of¡¡the
understanding¡¡belongs¡¡to¡¡us¡¡just¡¡as¡¡much¡¡under¡¡the¡¡presupposition¡¡of
differences¡¡in¡¡the¡¡objects¡¡of¡¡nature£»¡¡as¡¡under¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡that
these¡¡objects¡¡are¡¡homogeneous£»¡¡because¡¡we¡¡could¡¡not¡¡possess
conceptions£»¡¡nor¡¡make¡¡any¡¡use¡¡of¡¡our¡¡understanding£»¡¡were¡¡not¡¡the
phenomena¡¡included¡¡under¡¡these¡¡conceptions¡¡in¡¡some¡¡respects
dissimilar£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡similar£»¡¡in¡¡their¡¡character¡£
¡¡¡¡Reason¡¡thus¡¡prepares¡¡the¡¡sphere¡¡of¡¡the¡¡understanding¡¡for¡¡the
operations¡¡of¡¡this¡¡faculty£º¡¡1¡£¡¡By¡¡the¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡homogeneity
of¡¡the¡¡diverse¡¡in¡¡higher¡¡genera£»¡¡2¡£¡¡By¡¡the¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡variety¡¡of
the¡¡homogeneous¡¡in¡¡lower¡¡species£»¡¡and£»¡¡to¡¡complete¡¡the¡¡systematic
unity£»¡¡it¡¡adds£»¡¡3¡£¡¡A¡¡law¡¡of¡¡the¡¡affinity¡¡of¡¡all¡¡conceptions¡¡which
prescribes¡¡a¡¡continuous¡¡transition¡¡from¡¡one¡¡species¡¡to¡¡every¡¡other
by¡¡the¡¡gradual¡¡increase¡¡of¡¡diversity¡£¡¡We¡¡may¡¡term¡¡these¡¡the¡¡principles
of¡¡the¡¡homogeneity£»¡¡the¡¡specification£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡continuity¡¡of¡¡forms¡£
The¡¡latter¡¡results¡¡from¡¡the¡¡union¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡former£»¡¡inasmuch¡¡as¡¡we
regard¡¡the¡¡systematic¡¡connection¡¡as¡¡complete¡¡in¡¡thought£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ascent
to¡¡higher¡¡genera£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡in¡¡the¡¡descent¡¡to¡¡lower¡¡species¡£¡¡For
all¡¡diversities¡¡must¡¡be¡¡related¡¡to¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡all¡¡spring¡¡from
one¡¡highest¡¡genus£»¡¡descending¡¡through¡¡the¡¡different¡¡gradations¡¡of¡¡a
more¡¡and¡¡more¡¡extended¡¡determination¡£
¡¡¡¡We¡¡may¡¡illustrate¡¡the¡¡systematic¡¡unity¡¡produced¡¡by¡¡the¡¡three¡¡logical
principles¡¡in¡¡the¡¡following¡¡manner¡£¡¡Every¡¡conception¡¡may¡¡be¡¡regarded
as¡¡a¡¡point£»¡¡which£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡standpoint¡¡of¡¡a¡¡spectator£»¡¡has¡¡a¡¡certain
horizon£»¡¡which¡¡may¡¡be¡¡said¡¡to¡¡enclose¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡things¡¡that¡¡may¡¡be
viewed£»¡¡so¡¡to¡¡speak£»¡¡from¡¡that¡¡centre¡£¡¡Within¡¡this¡¡horizon¡¡there
must¡¡be¡¡an¡¡infinite¡¡number¡¡of¡¡other¡¡points£»¡¡each¡¡of¡¡which¡¡has¡¡its
own¡¡horizon£»¡¡smaller¡¡and¡¡more¡¡circumscribed£»¡¡in¡¡other¡¡words£»¡¡every
species¡¡contains¡¡sub¡species£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡the¡¡principle¡¡of
specification£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡logical¡¡horizon¡¡consists¡¡of¡¡smaller¡¡horizons
£¨subspecies£©£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡of¡¡points¡¡£¨individuals£©£»¡¡which¡¡possess¡¡no
extent¡£¡¡But¡¡different¡¡horizons¡¡or¡¡genera£»¡¡which¡¡include¡¡under¡¡them
so¡¡many¡¡conceptions£»¡¡may¡¡have¡¡one¡¡common¡¡horizon£»¡¡from¡¡which£»¡¡as
from¡¡a¡¡mid¡point£»¡¡they¡¡may¡¡be¡¡surveyed£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡may¡¡proceed¡¡thus£»
till¡¡we¡¡arrive¡¡at¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡genus£»¡¡or¡¡universal¡¡and¡¡true¡¡horizon£»
which¡¡is¡¡determined¡¡by¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡conception£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡contains
under¡¡itself¡¡all¡¡differences¡¡and¡¡varieties£»¡¡as¡¡genera£»¡¡species£»¡¡and
subspecies¡£
¡¡¡¡To¡¡this¡¡highest¡¡standpoint¡¡I¡¡am¡¡conducted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡law¡¡of¡¡homogeneity£»
as¡¡to¡¡all¡¡lower¡¡and¡¡more¡¡variously¡determined¡¡conceptions¡¡by¡¡the¡¡law
of¡¡specification¡£¡¡Now¡¡as¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way¡¡there¡¡exists¡¡no¡¡void¡¡in¡¡the¡¡whole
extent¡¡of¡¡all¡¡possible¡¡conceptions£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sphere¡¡of
these¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡can¡¡discover¡¡nothing£»¡¡there¡¡arises¡¡from¡¡the
presupposition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡universal¡¡horizon¡¡above¡¡mentioned£»¡¡and¡¡its
complete¡¡division£»¡¡the¡¡principle£º¡¡Non¡¡datur¡¡vacuum¡¡formarum¡£¡¡This
principle¡¡asserts¡¡that¡¡there¡¡are¡¡not¡¡different¡¡primitive¡¡and¡¡highest
g
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü