哲學史-philosophy of history(英文版)

第8部分 (第2/7頁)

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matter。　That　activity　is　the　medium　by　which　the　universal　latent　principle　is　translated　into　the

domain　of　objectivity。

§　29

I　will　endeavour　to　make　what　has　been　said　more　vivid　and　clear　by　examples。

The　building　of　a　house　is；　in　the　first　instance；　a　subjective　aim　and　design。　On　the　other　hand　we

have；　as　means；　the　several　substances　required　for　the　work；　—　Iron；　Wood；　Stones。　The

elements　are　made　use　of　in　working　up　this　material：　fire　to　melt　the　iron；　wind　to　blow　the　fire；

water　to　set　wheels　in　motion；　in　order　to　cut　the　wood；　&c。　The　result　is；　that　the　wind；　which　has

helped　to　build　the　house；　is　shut　out　by　the　house；　so　also　are　the　violence　of　rains　and　floods；

and　the　destructive　powers　of　fire；　so　far　as　the　house　is　made　fire…proof。　The　stones　and　beams

obey　the　law　of　gravity；　—　press　downwards；　—　and　so　high　walls　are　carried　up。　Thus　the

elements　are　made　use　of　in　accordance　with　their　nature；　and　yet　to　co…operate　for　a　product；　by

which　their　operation　is　limited。　Thus　the　passions　of　men　are　gratified；　they　develop　themselves

and　their　aims　in　accordance　with　their　natural　tendencies；　and　build　up　the　edifice　of　human

society；　thus　fortifying　a　position　for　Right　and　Order　against　themselves。

§　30

The　connection　of　events　above　indicated；　involves　also　the　fact；　that　in　history　an　additional　result

is　monly　produced　by　human　actions　beyond　that　which　they　aim　at　and　obtain　—　that　which

they　immediately　recognise　and　desire。　They　gratify　their　own　interest；　but　something　farther　is

thereby　acplished；　latent　in　the　actions　in　question；　though　not　present　to　their　consciousness；

and　not　inclu