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and so forth； not merely for the purpose of distinguishing itself as
an object in itself by means of the representation 〃I；〃 but also for
the purpose of determining the mode of its existence； that is； of
cognizing itself as noumenon。 But this is impossible； for the internal
empirical intuition is sensuous； and presents us with nothing but
phenomenal data； which do not assist the object of pure
consciousness in its attempt to cognize itself as a separate
existence； but are useful only as contributions to experience。
But； let it be granted that we could discover； not in experience；
but in certain firmly…established a priori laws of the use of pure
reason… laws relating to our existence； authority to consider
ourselves as legislating a priori in relation to our own existence and
as determining this existence； we should； on this supposition； find
ourselves possessed of a spontaneity； by which our actual existence
would be determinable； without the aid of the conditions of
empirical intuition。 We should also bee aware that in the
consciousness of our existence there was an a priori content； which
would serve to determine our own existence… an existence only
sensuously determinable… relatively； however； to a certain internal
faculty in relation to an intelligible world。
But this would not give the least help to the attempts of rational
psychology。 For this wonderful faculty； which the consciousness of the
moral law in me reveals； would present me with a principle of the
determination of my own existence which is purely intellectual… but by
what predicates？ By none other than those which are given in
sensuous intuition。 Thus I should find myself in the same position
in rational psychology which I formerly occupied； that is to say； I
should find myself still in need of sensuous intuitions； in order to
give significance to my conceptions of substance and cause； by means
of which alone I can possess a knowledge of myself： but these
intuitions can never raise me above the sphere of experience。 I should
be justified； however； in applying these conceptions； in regard to
their practical use； which is always directed to objects of
experience… in conformity with their analogical significance when
employed theoretically… to freedom and its subject。 At the same
time； I should understand by them merely the logical functions of
subject and predicate； of principle and consequence； in conformity
with which all actions are so determined； that they are capable of
being explained along with the laws of nature； conformably to the
categories of substance and cause； although they originate from a very
different principle。 We have made these observations for the purpose
of guarding against misunderstanding； to which the doctrine of our
intuition of self as a phenomenon is exposed。 We shall have occasion
to perceive their utility in the sequel。
CHAPTER II。 The Antinomy of Pure Reason。
We showed in the introduction to this part of our work； that all
transcendental illusion of pure reason arose from dialectical
arguments； the schema of which logic gives us in its three formal
species of syllogisms… just as the categories find their logical
schema in the four functions of all judgements。 The first kind of
these sophistical arguments related to the unconditioned unity of
the subjective conditions of all representations in general （of the
subject or soul）； in correspondence with the categorical syllogisms；
the major of which； as the principle； enounces the relation of a
predicate to a subject。 The second kind of dialectical argument will
therefore be concerned； following the analogy with hypothetical
syllogisms； with the unconditioned unity of the objective conditions
in the phenomenon； and； in this way； the theme of the third kind to be
treated of in the following chapter will be the unconditioned unity of
the objective conditions of the possibility of objects in general。
But it is worthy of remark that the transcendental paralogism
produced in the mind only a one…third illusion； in regard to the
idea of the subject of our thought； and the conceptions of reason gave
no ground to maintain the contrary proposition。 The advantage is
pletely on the side of Pneumatism； although this theory itself
passes into naught； in the crucible of pure reason。
Very different is the case when we apply reason to the objective
synthesis of phenomena。 Here； certainly； reason establishes； with much
plausibility； its principle of unconditioned unity； but it very soon
falls into such contradictions that it is pelled； in relation to
cosmology； to renounce its pretensions。
For here a new phenomenon of human reason meets us… a perfectly
natural antithetic； which does not require to be sought for by
subtle sophistry； but into which reason of itself unavoidably falls。
It is thereby preserved； to be sure； from the slumber of a fancied
conviction… which a merely one…sided illusion produces； but it is at
the same time pelled； either； on the one hand； to abandon itself to
a despairing scepticism； or； on the other； to assume a dogmatical
confidence and obstinate persistence in certain assertions； without
granting a fair hearing to the other side of the question。 Either is
the death of a sound philosophy； although the former might perhaps
deserve the title of the euthanasia of pure reason。
Before entering this region of discord and confusion； which the
conflict of the laws of pure reason （antinomy） produces； we shall
present the reader with some considerations； in explanation and
justification of the method we intend to follow in our treatment of
this subject。 I term all transcendental ideas； in so far as they
relate to the absolute totality in the synthesis of phenomena；
cosmical conceptions； partly on account of this unconditioned
totality； on which the conception of the world…whole is based… a
conception； which is itself an idea… partly because they relate solely
to the synthesis of phenomena… the empirical synthesis； while； on
the other hand； the absolute totality in the synthesis of the
conditions of all possible things gives rise to an ideal of pure
reason； which is quite distinct from the cosmical conception； although
it stands in relation with it。 Hence； as the paralogisms of pure
reason laid the foundation for a dialectical psychology； the
antinomy of pure reason will present us with the transcendental
principles of a pretended pure （rational） cosmology… not； however；
to declare it valid and to appropriate it； but… as the very term of
a conflict of reason sufficiently indicates； to present it as an
idea which cannot be reconciled with phenomena and experience。
SECTION I。 System of Cosmological Ideas。
That We may be able to enumerate with systematic precision these
ideas according to a principle； we must remark； in the first place；
that it is from the understanding alone that pure and transcendental
conceptions take their origin； that the reason does not properly
give birth to any conception； but only frees the conception of the
understanding from the unavoidable limitation of a possible
experience； and thus endeavours to raise it above the