按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
shape and to make it a connected single whole； observation finds at hand the quantitative
determinations of these various properties； on the other hand； however； their differences come to
light as qualitative。 Now； in this collection； what would have to be characterized as positive or
negative； and would be cancelled each by the otherin general； the internal arrangement and
exposition of the equation； which would be very composite；would belong to the notion。 The
notion however is excluded from operating just by the way in which the properties are found lying；
and are to be picked up as mere existent entities。 In this condition of mere being； none is negative
in its relation to another： the one exists just as much as the other； nor does it in any other fashion
indicate its position in the arrangement of the whole。
In the case of a series with concurrent differenceswhether the relation is meant to be that of
simultaneous increase on both sides or of increase in the one and decrease in the otherinterest
centres merely in the last simple expression of this combined whole； which would constitute the
one aspect of the law with specific gravity for the opposite。 But this one aspect； qua resultant fact；
is nothing else than what has been already mentioned； viz。 an individual property； say； like ordinary
cohesion； alongside and indifferent to which the others； specific gravity among them； are found
lying； and every other can be selected equally rightly； i。e。 equally wrongly； to stand as
representative of the entire other aspect； one as well as the other would merely 〃represent〃 or
stand for ＇German vorstellen＇ the essential reality （Wesen）； but would not actually be the fact
（Sache） itself。 Thus it seems that the attempt to find series of bodies which should in their two
aspects run continuously and simply parallel； and express the essential nature of the bodies in a law
holding of these aspects； must be looked at as an aim that is ignorant alike of what it is about and
of the means for carrying it through。
Heretofore the relation between the inner and outer phases in the organic form set before
observation was forthwith transferred to the sphere of the inorganic。 The determinate condition to
which this is due can now be stated more precisely； and there arises thence a further form and
relation of this situation。 What seems to present the possibility of such a comparison of inner and
outer in the case of the inorganic； drops away altogether when we come to the organic。 The
inorganic inner is a simple inner； which comes before perception as a merely existent property。 Its
characteristic determination is therefore essentially quantity； and it appears as an existent property
indifferent towards the outer； or the plurality of other sense properties。 The self…existence of the
living organism； however； does not so stand on one side opposed to its outer； it has the principle
of otherness in itself。 If we characterize self…existence as a simple self…preserving relation to self； its
otherness is simple negativity； and organic unity is the unity of self…identical self…relation and pure
negativity。 This unity is qua unity the inwardness of the organic； the organic is thereby inherently
universal； it is a genus。 The freedom of the genus with reference to its realization is； however；
something different from the freedom of specific gravity with reference to embodied form。 That of
the latter is freedom in the sphere of existence （seyende Freiheit）； in the sense that it takes its
stand on one side as a particular property。 But because it is an existent freedom； it is also only a
determinate character which belongs essentially to this embodied form； or by which this form qua
essence is something determinate。 The freedom； however； of the genus is a universal freedom； and
indifferent to this embodied form； or towards its realization。 The determinateness which attaches to
self…existence as such of the inorganic； falls therefore in the case of the organic under its
self…existence； while in the case of the inorganic it applies merely to the existence of the latter。
Hence； although in the case of the latter that determinate characteristic appears at the same time
only as a property； yet it possesses the value of being essential； because qua pure negative it
stands over against concrete existence which is being for another； and this simple negative in its
final and particular determinateness is a number。 The organic； however； is a form of singleness；
which is itself pure negativity； and hence abolishes within it the fixed determinateness of number；
which is applicable to the indifference of mere being。 So far as it has in it the moment of indifferent
being and thereby of number； this numerical aspect can therefore only be regarded as an incident
within it； but not as the essential nature of its living activity。
But now； though pure negativity； the principle of the process； does not fall outside the organic； and
though the organic does not in its essence possess negativity as an adjectival characteristic； the
singleness of the individual organism being instead inherently universal； yet this pure singleness is
not therein developed and realized in its various moments as if these were themselves abstract or
universal。 On the contrary； this developed expression makes its appearance outside that
universality； which thus falls back into mere inwardness； and between the concrete realization； the
embodied form； i。e。 the self…developing individual singleness of the organism； and the organic
universal； the genus； appears the determinate or specific universal； the species。 The existential
form； to which the negativity of the universal； the negativity of the genus； attains； is merely the
explicitly developed movement of a process； carried out among the parts of the given shape
assumed by the organism。 If the genus had the different parts within itself as an unbroken simple
unity； so that its simple negativity as such were at the same time a movement； carried on through
parts equally simple and directly universal in themselves； which were here actual as such moments；
then the organic genus would be consciousness。 But； as it is； the simple determinate character； qua
determinateness of the species； is present in an unconscious manner in the genus； concrete
realization starts from the genus； in other words what finds express realization is not the genus as
such； i。e。 not really thought。 This genus； qua actual organic fact； is merely represented by a
deputy。 Number； which is the representative here； seems to designate the transition from the genus
into the individual embodiment； and to set before observation the two aspects of the necessary
constitution； now in the form of a simple characteristic； and again in the form of an organic shape
with all its manifold variety fully developed。 This representative； however； really denotes the
indifference and freedom of the universal and the individual as regards one another； the genus puts
the individual at the mercy of mere quantitative difference； a non…essential element； but the
individual qua living shows itself equally independent of this difference。 True universality； in the
way specified； is here merely inner nature； qua characteristic determining the species it is formal
universality； and in contrast to the latter； that true universality takes its stand on the side of organic
individual singleness； which is thereby a living individual entity； and owing to its inner nature is not
concerned with its determinate character qua species。 But this singleness is not at the same time a
universal individual； i。e。 one in which universality would have external realization as well； i。e。 the
universal individual falls outside the living organic whole。 This universal individual； however； in the
way it is immediately the individual of the natural embodiments of organic life； is not consciousness
itself： its existence qua single organic living individual could not fall outside that universal if it were
to be consciousness。
We have； then； here a connected system； where one extreme is the universal life qua universal or
genus； the other being that same life qua a single whole； or universal individual： the mediating term；
however； is a combination of both； the first seeming to fit itself into it as determinate universality or
as species； the other as single whole proper or single individuality。 And since this connected
system belongs altogether to the aspect of the organic embodiment； it comprehends within it too
what is distinguished as inorganic nature。
Since； now； the universal life qua the simple essence of the genus develops from its side the
distinctions of the notion； and has to exhibit them in the form of a series of simple determining
characteristics； this series is a system of distinctions set up indifferently； or is a numerical series。
Whereas formerly the organic in the form of something individual and single was placed in
opposition to this non…essential distinction ＇of quantity＇； a distinction which neither expresses nor
contains its living nature： and while precisely the same has to be stated as regards the inorganic；
taking into acc