哲學史-philosophy of history(英文版)

第4部分 (第4/7頁)

e　first　condition　to　be　observed；　that

we　should　faithfully　adopt　all　that　is　historical。　But　in　such　general　expressions　themselves；　as

“faithfully”　and　“adopt；”　lies　the　ambiguity。　Even　the　ordinary；　the　“impartial”　historiographer；

who　believes　and　professes　that　he　maintains　a　simply　receptive　attitude；　surrendering　himself　only

to　the　data　supplied　him　—　is　by　no　means　passive　as　regards　the　exercise　of　his　thinking　powers。

He　brings　his　categories　with　him；　and　sees　the　phenomena　presented　to　his　mental　vision；

exclusively　through　these　media。　And；　especially　in　all　that　pretends　to　the　name　of　science；　it　is

indispensable　that　Reason　should　not　sleep　—　that　reflection　should　be　in　full　play。　To　him　who

looks　upon　the　world　rationally；　the　world　in　its　turn；　presents　a　rational　aspect。　The　relation　is

mutual。　But　the　various　exercises　of　reflection　—　the　different　points　of　view　—　the　modes　of

deciding　the　simple　question　of　the　relative　importance　of　events　（the　first　category　that　occupies

the　attention　of　the　historian）；　do　not　belong　to　this　place。

§　14

I　will　only　mention　two　phases　and　points　of　view　that　concern　the　generally　diffused　conviction

that　Reason　has　ruled；　and　is　still　ruling　in　the　world；　and　consequently　in　the　world's　history；

because　they　give　us；　at　the　same　time；　an　opportunity　for　more　closely　investigating　the　question

that　presents　the　greatest　difficulty；　and　for　indicating　a　branch　of　the　subject；　which　will　have　to　be

enlarged　on　in　the　sequel。

I。　Reason　Governs　the　World

§　15

One　of　these　points　is；　that　passage　in　history；　which　informs　us　that　the　Greek　Anaxagoras　was

the　first　to　enunc