哲學史-philosophy of history(英文版)

第7部分 (第2/7頁)

nment。

Here　a　mistake　must　be　avoided。　We　intend　blame；　and　justly　impute　it　as　a　fault；　when　we　say　of

an　individual；　that　he　is　“interested”　（in　taking　part　in　such　or　such　transactions）　that　is；　seeks

only　his　private　advantage。　In　reprehending　this　we　find　fault　with　him　for　furthering　his　personal

aims　without　any　regard　to　a　more　prehensive　design；　of　which　he　takes　advantage　to　promote

his　own　interest；　or　which　he　even　sacrifices　with　this　view。　But　he　who　is　active　in　promoting　an

object；　is　not　simply　“interested；”　but　interested　in　that　object　itself。　Language　faithfully

expresses　this　distinction。　—　Nothing　therefore　happens；　nothing　is　acplished；　unless　the

individuals　concerned；　seek　their　own　satisfaction　in　the　issue。　They　are　particular　units　of　society；

i。e。　they　have　special　needs；　instincts；　and　interests　generally；　peculiar　to　themselves。　Among　these

needs　are　not　only　such　as　we　usually　call　necessities　—　the　stimuli　of　individual　desire　and　volition

—　but　also　those　connected　with　individual　views　and　convictions；　or　—　to　use　a　term　expressing

less　decision　—　leanings　of　opinion；　supposing　the　impulses　of　reflection；　understanding；　and

reason；　to　have　been　awakened。　In　these　cases　people　demand；　if　they　are　to　exert　themselves　in

any　direction；　that　the　object　should　mend　itself　to　them；　that　in　point　of　opinion；　—　whether　as

to　its　goodness；　justice；　advantage；　profit；　—　they　should　be　able　to　“enter　into　it”　（dabei　seyn）。

This　is　a　consideration　of　especial　importance　in　our　age；　when　people　are　less　than　formerly

influenced　by　reliance　on　others；　and　by　authority；　when；　on　the　contrary；　they　devote　their

activities　to　a