Download (PDF, 23.58MB) - Plurality Press

2 THE FOURFOLD ROOT. [CHAP. I.
plicanda. As for tlie law of specification, Kant expresses
it thus: entium varietates non temere esse minuendas. It
requires namely, that we should clearly distinguish one
from another the different genera collected under one com
prehensive conception; likewise that we should not con
found the higher and lower species comprised in each
that we should be careful not to overleap any, and
genus ;
never to classify inferior species, let alone individuals,
immediately under the generic conception : each concep
tion being susceptible of subdivision, and none even
coming down to mere intuition. Kant teaches that both
laws are transcendental, fundamental principles of our
Reason, which postulate conformity of things with them
a priori; and Plato, when he tells us that these rules
were flung down from the seat of the gods with the Pro
methean fire, seems to express the same thought in his
own way.
2. Application of the Method in the present case.
In spite of the weight of such recommendations, I find
that the second of these two laws has been far too rarely
applied to a fundamental principle of all : knowledge the
Principle of Sufficient Reason. For although this principle
has been often and long ago stated in a general way, still^
sufficient distinction has not been made between its ex
tremely different applications, in each of which it acquires
a new meaning ; its origin in various mental faculties thus
becoming evident. If we compare Kant s philosophy with
all preceding systems, we perceive that, precisely in the
observation of our mental faculties, many persistent errors
have been caused by applying the principle of homogeneity,
while the opposite principle of specification was neglected ;
whereas the law of specification has led to the greatest and
most important results. I therefore crave permission to