目的因果性:康德哲学中一个被忽视的概念

Purposive Causality: A Neglected Concept in Kant's Philosophy

目的因果性是康德哲学中一个被遮蔽了的重要概念,它不仅揭示了一种独特的因果秩序,还是其目的论理论框架的支撑点。通过这一概念人们能够管中一窥康德目的论思想体系的全貌及其与古希腊自然目的论,乃至中世纪神学目的论传统之间的内在关系。特别值得关注的是,康德在自然目的论中通过目的因果性建立起来的自然目的概念和自然目的系统的理念,不是一种静止的系统论描述,而是具有内在生命力的自我生成和发展的概念。由此,康德在目的论中复兴了古希腊时期,尤其是亚里士多德从潜能到实现的动态实体观念。自然界的发展历史和人类社会的历史进程都被看做是合目的性的,人类理性在这种历史视角中被看作是逐渐实现出来的自然禀赋,这与其逻辑先在性形成鲜明对比,表现了康德对理性主义和经验主义思维方式的调和。

Purposive causality is a shaded concept in Kant's philosophy which shows a unique causal order and turns into a strong point of Kant's teleological system. By means of this concept,we can have an insight into the overall perspective of Kant's teleological thought,its relation to the tradition of natural teleology of Ancient Greece and theological teleology of Middle Age. It is noteworthy that Kant's natural teleology is not a static description but a purposive historical process with inner vitality and activity which is reminiscent of Aristotle's dynamic entity idea from potential to realization. In this view,human reason and freedom are regarded as results of purposive process of nature,as opposed to their logical priority.