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it； and must consequently contain other conceptions； that is； other
sub…species under it。 This law of specification may be thus expressed：
entium varietates non temere sunt minuendae。
But it is easy to see that this logical law would likewise be
without sense or application； were it not based upon a
transcendental law of specification； which certainly does not
require that the differences existing phenomena should be infinite
in number； for the logical principle； which merely maintains the
indeterminateness of the logical sphere of a conception； in relation
to its possible division； does not authorize this statement； while
it does impose upon the understanding the duty of searching for
subspecies to every species； and minor differences in every
difference。 For； were there no lower conceptions； neither could
there be any higher。 Now the understanding cognizes only by means of
conceptions； consequently； how far soever it may proceed in
division； never by mere intuition； but always by lower and lower
conceptions。 The cognition of phenomena in their complete
determination （which is possible only by means of the understanding）
requires an unceasingly continued specification of conceptions； and
a progression to ever smaller differences； of which abstraction bad
been made in the conception of the species； and still more in that
of the genus。
This law of specification cannot be deduced from experience； it
can never present us with a principle of so universal an
application。 Empirical specification very soon stops in its
distinction of diversities； and requires the guidance of the
transcendental law； as a principle of the reason… a law which
imposes on us the necessity of never ceasing in our search for
differences； even although these may not present themselves to the
senses。 That absorbent earths are of different kinds could only be
discovered by obeying the anticipatory law of reason； which imposes
upon the understanding the task of discovering the differences
existing between these earths； and supposes that nature is richer in
substances than our senses would indicate。 The faculty of the
understanding belongs to us just as much under the presupposition of
differences in the objects of nature； as under the condition that
these objects are homogeneous； because we could not possess
conceptions； nor make any use of our understanding； were not the
phenomena included under these conceptions in some respects
dissimilar； as well as similar； in their character。
Reason thus prepares the sphere of the understanding for the
operations of this faculty： 1。 By the principle of the homogeneity
of the diverse in higher genera； 2。 By the principle of the variety of
the homogeneous in lower species； and； to complete the systematic
unity； it adds； 3。 A law of the affinity of all conceptions which
prescribes a continuous transition from one species to every other
by the gradual increase of diversity。 We may term these the principles
of the homogeneity； the specification； and the continuity of forms。
The latter results from the union of the two former； inasmuch as we
regard the systematic connection as complete in thought； in the ascent
to higher genera； as well as in the descent to lower species。 For
all diversities must be related to each other； as they all spring from
one highest genus； descending through the different gradations of a
more and more extended determination。
We may illustrate the systematic unity produced by the three logical
principles in the following manner。 Every conception may be regarded
as a point； which； as the standpoint of a spectator； has a certain
horizon； which may be said to enclose a number of things that may be
viewed； so to speak； from that centre。 Within this horizon there
must be an infinite number of other points； each of which has its
own horizon； smaller and more circumscribed； in other words； every
species contains sub…species； according to the principle of
specification； and the logical horizon consists of smaller horizons
（subspecies）； but not of points （individuals）； which possess no
extent。 But different horizons or genera； which include under them
so many conceptions； may have one common horizon； from which； as
from a mid…point； they may be surveyed； and we may proceed thus；
till we arrive at the highest genus； or universal and true horizon；
which is determined by the highest conception； and which contains
under itself all differences and varieties； as genera； species； and
subspecies。
To this highest standpoint I am conducted by the law of homogeneity；
as to all lower and more variously…determined conceptions by the law
of specification。 Now as in this way there exists no void in the whole
extent of all possible conceptions； and as out of the sphere of
these the mind can discover nothing； there arises from the
presupposition of the universal horizon above mentioned； and its
complete division； the principle： Non datur vacuum formarum。 This
principle asserts that there are not different primitive and highest
genera； which stand isolated； so to speak； from each other； but all
the various genera are mere divisions and limitations of one highest
and universal genus； and hence follows immediately the principle：
Datur continuum formarum。 This principle indicates that all
differences of species limit each other； and do not admit of
transition from one to another by a saltus； but only through smaller
degrees of the difference between the one species and the other。 In
one word； there are no species or sub…species which （in the view of
reason） are the nearest possible to each other； intermediate species
or sub…species being always possible； the difference of which from
each of the former is always smaller than the difference existing
between these。
The first law； therefore； directs us to avoid the notion that
there exist different primal genera； and enounces the fact of
perfect homogeneity； the second imposes a check upon this tendency
to unity and prescribes the distinction of sub…species； before
proceeding to apply our general conceptions to individuals。 The
third unites both the former； by enouncing the fact of homogeneity
as existing even in the most various diversity； by means of the
gradual transition from one species to another。 Thus it indicates a
relationship between the different branches or species； in so far as
they all spring from the same stem。
But this logical law of the continuum specierum （formarum logicarum）
presupposes a transcendental principle （lex continui in natura）；
without which the understanding might be led into error； by
following the guidance of the former； and thus perhaps pursuing a path
contrary to that prescribed by nature。 This law must； consequently； be
based upon pure transcendental； and not upon empirical；
considerations。 For； in the latter case； it would come later than
the system； whereas it is really itself the parent of all that is
systematic in our