论康德的建构性与范导性之划分

On the Constitutive-Regulative Division in Kant

建构性与范导性之划分表明:对于理念X,"X存在"并非"X有意义"的必要条件;X之意义是启迪实践,而非断言事实。在自然科学中,整体自然观与目的论都是范导性的理念,它们激励着人们在经验研究中提出假说和实验,具体地为自然寻求统一和完整的解释。在道德实践中,理念激励着人们去遵循道德法则,就好像理念存在似的。在形而上学中,在建构性与范导性之间的混淆构成了传统形而上学的先验幻相。在超验领域,理性之建构性原则失败了,但是范导性的原则继续承担着表象之根基(作为物自身)与实践之指引(作为理想)的双重作用。可以说,在康德的建构性—范导性之划分里留存着一种现代的希望:理性是不死的。

The constitutive-regulative division concerns fundamental problems of Kant.The transcendental dialectics proclaims the bankruptcy of traditional metaphysics,but it also indicates that the metaphysical tendency rooted in reason is legitimate as the ideal of reason.If an ideal(say,the unity of presentation)is mistaken as a constitutive principle,it shall generate a metaphysical entity(correspondingly,the idea of soul),which is the transcendental illusion of reason.However,if it is taken as a regulative principle,then it shall guide the application of understanding and moral practices.The basic structure in preserving the rationality in metaphysics is to turn a Platonic idea into an ideal.According to Kant,the thing in itself is the solely true ideal for human reason.Kant is known for limiting knowledge in order to make room for belief.Noticeably,the knowledge is specifically metaphysics,and the Kantian belief is ideal,which is the direction by an idea for understanding and actions of the subject,even though the idea itself is inexplicable.Both theoretical belief(doctrinalen Glauben)in scientific research and moral belief(moralischer Glaube)are the regulative application of reason.In sciences,the concept of nature in its totality and teleology is regulative idea,which enlightens researchers to concretely discover comprehensive and coherent explanations for various phenomena by hypotheses and experiments.In moral practices,ideas motivate human to follow the law of reason,as if the ideas exist.In sum,in the division,for an idea X,“X exists”is not a necessary condition for“X is meaningful”.The meaning of X is to enlighten and motivate praxis,rather than to describe facts.The confusion between constitutive and regulative principles leads to various transcendental illusions in metaphysics.After the failure of constitutive principles of reason in transcendental realm,regulative principles function as the ground for appearance(as thing in itself)and the guidance of morality(as ideals).There remains a hope of modernity in the Kantian constitutive-regulative division,namely:reason is not mortal.