哲學史-philosophy of history(英文版)

第8部分 (第3/7頁)

ded　in　their　design。　An　analogous　example　is　offered　in　the　case　of　a　man　who；　from　a

feeling　of　revenge；　—　perhaps　not　an　unjust　one；　but　produced　by　injury　on　the　other's　part；　—

burns　that　other　man's　house。　A　connection　is　immediately　established　between　the　deed　itself　and

a　train　of　circumstances　not　directly　included　in　it；　taken　abstractedly。　In　itself　it　consisted　in　merely

presenting　a　small　flame　to　a　small　portion　of　a　beam。　Events　not　involved　in　that　simple　act　follow

of　themselves。　The　part　of　the　beam　which　was　set　fire　to　is　connected　with　its　remote　portions；

the　beam　itself　is　united　with　the　woodwork　of　the　house　generally；　and　this　with　other　houses；　so

that　a　wide　conflagration　ensues；　which　destroys　the　goods　and　chattels　of　many　other　persons

besides　his　against　whom　the　act　of　revenge　was　first　directed；　perhaps　even　costs　not　a　few　men

their　lives。　This　lay　neither　in　the　deed　abstractedly；　nor　in　the　design　of　the　man　who　mitted　it。

But　the　action　has　a　further　general　bearing。　In　the　design　of　the　doer　it　was　only　revenge　executed

against　an　individual　in　the　destruction　of　his　property；　but　it　is　moreover　a　crime；　and　that　involves

punishment　also。　This　may　not　have　been　present　to　the　mind　of　the　perpetrator；　still　less　in　his

intention；　but　his　deed　itself；　the　general　principles　it　calls　into　play；　its　substantial　content　entails　it。

By　this　example　I　wish　only　to　impress　on　you　the　consideration；　that　in　a　simple　act；　something

farther　may　be　implicated　than　lies　in　the　intention　and　consciousness　of　the　agent。　The　example

before　us　involves；　however；　this　additional　consideration；　that　the　substance　of　the　act；

conseque