登陆注册
34933700000026

第26章

Should it be objected that if so there cannot be a first cognition, and hencethere can be no cognition, the reply is that cognition proper arises gradually-- that during the first stage of incipient intelligence, before the feelingsproduced by intercourse with the outer world have been put into order, thereare no cognitions; and that, as every infant shows us, these slowly emergeout of the confusion of unfolding consciousness as fast as the experiencesare arranged into groups -- as fast as the most frequently repeated sensations,and their relations to one another, become familiar enough to admit of theirrecognition as such or such, whenever they recur. Should it be further objectedthat if cognition presupposes recognition, there can be no cognition, evenby an *****, of an object never before seen; there is still the sufficientanswer that in so far as it is not assimilated to previously-seen objectsit is not known, and that it is known only in so far as it is assimilatedto them. Of this paradox the interpretation is, that an object is classifiablein various ways with various degress of completeness. An animal hithertounknown (mark the word), though not referable to any established speciesor genus, is yet recognized as belonging to one of the larger divisions-mammals,birds, reptiles, or fishes; or should it be so anomalous that its alliancewith any of these is not determinable, it may yet be classed as vertebrateor invertebrate; or if it be one of those organisms in which it is doubtfulwhether the animal or vegetal traits predominate, it is still known as aliving body. Even should it be questioned whether it is organic, it remainsbeyond question that it is a material object, and it is cognized by beingrecognized as such. Whence it is clear that a thing is perfectly known onlywhen it is in all respects like certain things previously observed. thatin proportion to the number of respects in which it is unlike them, is theextent to which it is unknown; and that hence when it has absolutely no attributein common with anything else, it must be absolutely beyond the bound of knowledge.

Observe the corollary which here concerns us. A cognition of the Real,as distinguished from the Phenomenal, must, if it exists, conform to thislaw of cognition in general. The First Cause, the Infinite, the Absolute,to be known at all, must be classed. To be positively thought of, it mustbe thought of as such or such -- as of this or that kind. Can it be likein kind to anything of which we have experience? Obviously not. Between thecreating and the created, there must be a distinction transcending any ofthe distinctions between different divisions of the created. That which isUnCauSed cannot be assimilated to that which is caused: the two being, inthe very naming, antithetically opposed. The Infinite cannot be grouped alongwith something finite; since, in being so grouped, it must be regarded asnot infinite. It is impossible to put the Absolute in the same category withanything relative, so long as the Absolute is defined as that of which nonecessary relation can be predicated. Is it then that the Actual, thoughunthinkable by classification with the Apparent, is thinkable by classificationwith itself? This supposition is equally absurd with the other. It impliesthe plurality of the First Cause, the Infinite, the Absolute; and this implicationis self-contradictory. There cannot be more than one First Cause; seeingthat the existence of more than one would involve the existence of somethingnecessitating more than one, which something would be the true First Cause.

How self-destructive is the assumption of two or more Infinites, is manifeston remembering that such Infinites, by limiting each other, would becomefinite. And similarly, an Absolute which existed not alone but along withother Absolutes, would no longer be an absolute but a relative. The Unconditionedtherefore, as classable neither with any form of the conditioned nor withany other Unconditioned, cannot be classed at all. And to admit that it cannotbe known as of such or such kind, is to admit that it is unknowable.

Thus, from the very nature of thought, the relativity of our knowledgeis inferable in three ways. As we find by analyzing it, and as we see itobjectively displayed in every proposition, a thought involves relation,difference, likeness. Whatever does not present each of these does not admitof cognition. And hence we may say that the Unconditioned, as presentingnone of them, is trebly unthinkable. §25. From yet another point of view we may discern the same greattruth. If, instead of examining our intellectual powers directly as displayedin the act of thought, or indirectly as displayed in thought when expressedby words, we look at the connexion between the mind and the world, a likeconclusion is forced on us. The very definition of Life, phenomenally considered,when reduced to its most abstract shape, discloses this ultimate implication.

同类推荐
  • 道德真经解

    道德真经解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 难经正义

    难经正义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 紫闺秘书

    紫闺秘书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 剩语

    剩语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 荔枝

    荔枝

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 那个很甜的初春

    那个很甜的初春

    爱情很甜,亦无比的苦楚。缘分总是那么的奇妙。
  • 龙武天穹

    龙武天穹

    一个身怀魔种的阳光少年。一个被驱逐的异界公主。当两人在大火中相遇,当两人结缔生命契约!在这片神奇大陆,又将发生属于他们,怎样的故事......
  • 重生之弃女魔尊

    重生之弃女魔尊

    前世,她是心狠手辣的魔女杀神血罗刹;人挡杀人佛挡杀佛。青梅竹马的师兄亲手将她挫骨扬灰,一手带大的师弟背后偷袭,让她灰飞烟灭。侥幸重生,她却成了一个废人女修,毁容、眼瞎、被追杀……原主生前爱上前世师兄,自己与腹黑师弟夜夜双修……男主邪魅狂狷宠妻成瘾,女主战力爆表貌美如花。一个修仙路上路见不平就破案的鬼怪奇谈故事会……
  • 百变轮回

    百变轮回

    我们身边每时每刻都在变化,小的变化在我们豪不知情的时候悄悄流逝,大的变化在我们生活中感受的到;摸得着,在这些变化中对我们有利有弊。我们只有应时所需;势时而变,跟随时代变化而变。白天黑夜是一个轮回;身老病死也是一个轮回,花开花谢,春夏秋冬四季变化还是一个轮回。轮回是这世间永恒的主题,我们在轮回中度过了无数个春秋。有人说人死后能入六道轮回,也有人说只有打破轮回才拥有永恒的生命。你们信吗?至少我不信。我相信只有在变化中寻求真理;才能让人类的文明永久传承。因为世上没有永恒的真理,只有永恒的变化,一变一轮回。
  • 我家有个仙侠世界

    我家有个仙侠世界

    卧室里突然出现了一座通向仙侠世界的传送门!人们为了从门后泄漏的一点灵气而欢呼雀跃,张青已经走入传送门,去领略更为广阔的天地。地球上的人们为了偶尔诞生的一颗灵草而争夺时,张青已经一把一把的往兜里揣。当有人打破身体极限自得意满的时候,张青却开始朝着长生不老的方向前进。等到外星人在几万光年外发现灵气的来源赶到地球的时候,成仙的张青正在这里等待着他们。
  • 八年的等候

    八年的等候

    两人自小订下了婚约,十岁的顾安第一次看见兰惜哭,用尽了一身懈数,扮鬼脸,假摔跤…最终博得了她一笑,后来他的一生都在博她一笑。高冷矜贵男主vs软萌爱哭女主
  • 黑科技研究中心

    黑科技研究中心

    "读书让我获得知识,金钱让我获得无数的黑科技。"读者群:522475862
  • 勿念卿

    勿念卿

    念念不忘,必有回响。不同职业的爱情,带你体会不同的感受,每一种爱,都折射着永恒和卑微的心。
  • 职业高手在校园

    职业高手在校园

    林峰是职业战队‘星炼战队’的最后一位队长,后来战队解散,他听从家里人的安排再次来到学校完成学业,但是林峰的梦想便是重新组建战队重返职业赛场。有梦想便要去放飞,无论自己身在何地。
  • 翡翠镯子

    翡翠镯子

    珠宝首饰交易中的人心,处女作?乛v乛?嘿嘿