哲學史-philosophy of history(英文版)

第4部分 (第5/7頁)

iate　the　doctrine　that　Understanding　generally；　or　Reason；　governs　the　world。　It　is

not　intelligence　as　self…conscious　Reason；　—　not　a　Spirit　as　such　that　is　meant；　and　we　must　clearly

distinguish　these　from　each　other。　The　movement　of　the　solar　system　takes　place　according　to

unchangeable　laws。　These　laws　are　Reason；　implicit　in　the　phenomena　in　question。　But　neither　the

sun　nor　the　plas；　which　revolve　around　it　according　to　these　laws；　can　be　said　to　have　any

consciousness　of　them。

§　16

A　thought　of　this　kind；　—　that　Nature　is　an　embodiment　of　Reason；　that　it　is　unchangeably

subordinate　to　universal　laws；　appears　nowise　striking　or　strange　to　us。　We　are　accustomed　to

such　conceptions；　and　find　nothing　extraordinary　in　them。　And　I　have　mentioned　this　extraordinary

occurrence；　partly　to　show　how　history　teaches；　that　ideas　of　this　kind；　which　may　seem　trivial　to

us；　have　not　always　been　in　the　world；　that　on　the　contrary；　such　a　thought　makes　an　epoch　in　the

annals　of　human　intelligence。　Aristotle　says　of　Anaxagoras；　as　the　originator　of　the　thought　in

question；　that　he　appeared　as　a　sober　man　among　the　drunken。　Socrates　adopted　the　doctrine

from　Anaxagoras；　and　it　forthwith　became　the　ruling　idea　in　Philosophy；　except　in　the　school　of

Epicurus；　who　ascribed　all　events　to　chance。　“I　was　delighted　with　the　sentiment；”　—　Plato

makes　Socrates　say　—　“and　hoped　I　had　found　a　teacher　who　would　show　me　Nature　in　harmony

with　Reason；　who　would　demonstrate　in　each　particular　phenomenon　its　specific　aim；　and　in　the

whole；　the　grand　object　of　the　Universe。　I　would　not　have　surrendered　this　hope　for　a　great　deal。

But　how　very　much　was　I　disappointed；