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cognition to which they belong; in other words; by means of
transcendental reflection。 We may; therefore; with justice say; that
logical reflection is mere comparison; for in it no account is taken
of the faculty of cognition to which the given conceptions belong; and
they are consequently; as far as regards their origin; to be treated
as homogeneous; while transcendental reflection (which applies to
the objects themselves) contains the ground of the possibility of
objective comparison of representations with each other; and is
therefore very different from the former; because the faculties of
cognition to which they belong are not even the same。 Transcendental
reflection is a duty which no one can neglect who wishes to
establish an a priori judgement upon things。 We shall now proceed to
fulfil this duty; and thereby throw not a little light on the question
as to the determination of the proper business of the understanding。
1。 Identity and Difference。 When an object is presented to us
several times; but always with the same internal determinations
(qualitas et quantitas); it; if an object of pure understanding; is
always the same; not several things; but only one thing (numerica
identitas); but if a phenomenon; we do not concern ourselves with
comparing the conception of the thing with the conception of some
other; but; although they may be in this respect perfectly the same;
the difference of place at the same time is a sufficient ground for
asserting the numerical difference of these objects (of sense)。
Thus; in the case of two drops of water; we may make complete
abstraction of all internal difference (quality and quantity); and;
the fact that they are intuited at the same time in different
places; is sufficient to justify us in holding them to be
numerically different。 Leibnitz regarded phenomena as things in
themselves; consequently as intelligibilia; that is; objects of pure
understanding (although; on account of the confused nature of their
representations; he gave them the name of phenomena); and in this case
his principle of the indiscernible (principium identatis
indiscernibilium) is not to be impugned。 But; as phenomena are objects
of sensibility; and; as the understanding; in respect of them; must be
employed empirically and not purely or transcendentally; plurality and
numerical difference are given by space itself as the condition of
external phenomena。 For one part of space; although it may be
perfectly similar and equal to another part; is still without it;
and for this reason alone is different from the latter; which is added
to it in order to make up a greater space。 It follows that this must
hold good of all things that are in the different parts of space at
the same time; however similar and equal one may be to another。
2。 Agreement and Opposition。 When reality is represented by the pure
understanding (realitas noumenon); opposition between realities is
incogitable… such a relation; that is; that when these realities are
connected in one subject; they annihilate the effects of each other
and may be represented in the formula 3 … 3 = 0。 On the other hand;
the real in a phenomenon (realitas phaenomenon) may very well be in
mutual opposition; and; when united in the same subject; the one may
completely or in part annihilate the effect or consequence of the
other; as in the case of two moving forces in the same straight line
drawing or impelling a point in opposite directions; or in the case of
a pleasure counterbalancing a certain amount of pain。
3。 The Internal and External。 In an object of the pure
understanding; only that is internal which has no relation (as regards
its existence) to anything different from itself。 On the other hand;
the internal determinations of a substantia phaenomenon in space are
nothing but relations; and it is itself nothing more than a complex of
mere relations。 Substance in space we are cognizant of only through
forces operative in it; either drawing others towards itself
(attraction); or preventing others from forcing into itself (repulsion
and impenetrability)。 We know no other properties that make up the
conception of substance phenomenal in space; and which we term matter。
On the other hand; as an object of the pure understanding; every
substance must have internal determination and forces。 But what
other internal attributes of such an object can I think than those
which my internal sense presents to me? That; to wit; which in
either itself thought; or something analogous to it。 Hence Leibnitz;
who looked upon things as noumena; after denying them everything
like external relation; and therefore also composition or combination;
declared that all substances; even the component parts of matter; were
simple substances with powers of representation; in one word; monads。
4。 Matter and Form。 These two conceptions lie at the foundation of
all other reflection; so inseparably are they connected with every
mode of exercising the understanding。 The former denotes the
determinable in general; the second its determination; both in a
transcendental sense; abstraction being made of every difference in
that which is given; and of the mode in which it is determined。
Logicians formerly termed the universal; matter; the specific
difference of this or that part of the universal; form。 In a judgement
one may call the given conceptions logical matter (for the judgement);
the relation of these to each other (by means of the copula); the form
of the judgement。 In an object; the composite parts thereof
(essentialia) are the matter; the mode in which they are connected
in the object; the form。 In respect to things in general; unlimited
reality was regarded as the matter of all possibility; the
limitation thereof (negation) as the form; by which one thing is
distinguished from another according to transcendental conceptions。
The understanding demands that something be given (at least in the
conception); in order to be able to determine it in a certain
manner。 Hence; in a conception of the pure understanding; the matter
precedes the form; and for this reason Leibnitz first assumed the
existence of things (monads) and of an internal power of
representation in them; in order to found upon this their external
relation and the community their state (that is; of their
representations)。 Hence; with him; space and time were possible… the
former through the relation of substances; the latter through the
connection of their determinations with each other; as causes and
effects。 And so would it really be; if the pure understanding were
capable of an immediate application to objects; and if space and
time were determinations of things in themselves。 But being merely
sensuous intuitions; in which we determine all objects solely as
phenomena; the form of intuition (as a subjective property of
sensibility) must antecede all matter (sensations); consequently space
and time must antecede all phenomena and