philosophy of nature-第13部分

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is　produced　and；　in　fact；　as　a　light　set　in　opposition。　The　suspension　of　the　diremption；　the　other
moment　of　this　process；　has　an　undifferentiated　light　as　its　product；　which　disappears　immediately
as　incorporeal。　Apart　from　this　abstract　physical　manifestation；　the　process　has　only　the
mechanical　effect　of　shaking　as　a　significant　outcome。　

It　is　well…known　that　the　earlier　distinction　between　vitreous　and　resinous　electricity；　determined　as
a　part　of　sensory　existence；　was　idealised　by　empirical　science　into　the　conceptual　distinction
between　positive　and　negative　electricity。　This　is　a　remarkable　instance　of　the　way　in　which
empiricism；　which　initially　attempts　to　grasp　and　retain　generality　in　sensory　form；　suspends　itself。　

Although　there　has　been　much　discussion　recently　of　the　polarisation　of　light；　it　would　have　been
more　appropriate　to　reserve　this　expression　for　electricity　than　for　the　phenomena　observed　by
Malus；　where　transparent　media；　reflecting　surfaces；　and　their　various　reciprocal　inclinations；　as
well　as　a　determinate　corner　of　light；　are　actually　so　many　different　kinds　of　situations；　which
produces　no　difference　in　light　itself　but　does　show　itself　in　light's　shining。　

The　conditions　under　which　positive　and　negative　electricity　emerge；　in　relation　to　smoother　or
rougher　surfaces；　for　example；　a　breath　of　air；　and　so　on；　are　proof　of　the　superficiality　of　the
electrical　process；　and　show　how　little　the　concrete；　physical　nature　of　the　body　enters　into　it。
Similarly；　the　weak　coloration　of　the　two　electrical　lights；　and　the　smell　and　the　taste　of　them；　show
only　the　beginning　of　a　physicality　in　the　abstract　self　of　the　light　in　which　the　process　is　maintained。
Negativity；　the　suspension　of　the　antithetical　tension；　is　mainly　a　shock。　The　self…positing；
self…identical　self　remains　as　such　and　consistent　in　the　ideal　spheres　of　space；　time；　and
mechanism。　Light　has　scarcely　begun　to　materialise　itself　as　warmth；　and　the　combustion　which　can
arise　from　the　〃discharge〃　is　（Berthollet；　Statique　chimique；　part　I；　sect。　III；　not。　XI）　rather　a
direct　effect　of　shock　than　the　consequences　of　the　realisation　of　light　as　fire。　

Galvanism　is　the　electrical　process　made　permanent；　it　is　permanence　as　the　contact　between　two
different；　non…brittle　bodies；　which；　as　part　of　their　fluid　nature　（the　〃electrical　conductive　potential〃
of　metal）；　their　entire　immediate　difference　towards　each　other；　and　the　surface　qualities　of　their
relationship；　maintain　their　tension　mutually。　The　galvanic　process　occurs　only　through　this
particular　specificity　of　bodies　of　a　more　concrete　and　corporeal　nature；　and　subsequently
undergoes　a　transition　to　the　chemical　process。　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　§　250。

The　individuality　of　the　body　is　the　negative　unity　of　the　concept；　which　is　not　self…positing　simply
as　an　immediate　entity　and　an　unmoved　generality；　but　only　in　the　mediation　of　the　process。　The
body　is　therefore　a　product；　and　its　shape　a　presupposition；　for　which　the　end　that　it　will　ultimately
achieve　is　also　presupposed。　The　particularisation　of　the　body；　however；　does　not　stop　at　either
mere　inert　diversity　or　the　opposition　between　different　attributes　and　their　tension　within　the
body's　pure　selfhood。　Rather；　since　the　particular　attributes　are　only　the　reality　of　this　simple
concept；　the　body　of　their　soul；　of　light；　the　entire　corporeality　moves　into　tension　and　the　process
which　is　the　development　of　the　individual　body；　a　process　of　isolation；　—　the　chemical　process。　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（c）　The　Process　of　Isolation
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　§　251。

The　chemical　process　has　its　products　as　a　presupposition；　and　therefore　begins　（1）　from　the
immediacy　of　their　presupposition。　In　accord　with　the　concept；　the　particular　body　is　immediate
insofar　as　its　attributes　or　material　components　are　unified　together　into　a　simple　determination　and
become　equal　in　the　simplicity　of　specific　gravity；　thickness。　Metals　are　solid；　but　in　terms　of　their
particularity　become　fluid　and　capable　of　maintaining　a　determinate　difference　towards　each　other。　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　§　252。

The　middle　term；　through　which　the　concept　with　its　reality　unites　these　solid　differences　as　the
unity　of　both　terms　and　the　essence　of　each　in　itself；　—　posits　the　difference　of　one　with　the
difference　of　the　other　into　a　unity；　and　therefore　becomes　real　as　the　totality　of　their　concept　—　is
initially　opposed　to　the　immediate　solidity　of　the　extremes　as　an　abstract　neutrality；　the　element　of
water。　The　process　itself　is　the　decomposition　of　water　into　opposed　moments　through　the
presupposed　difference　of　the　extremes；　they　thereby　suspend　their　abstraction　and　complete
themselves　as　the　unity　of　their　concept。　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　§　253。

The　moments　into　which　water　decomposes　or；　what　amounts　to　the　same　thing；　the　forms　under
which　it　is　posited；　are　abstract；　because　water　itself　is　only　a　physical　element　and　not　an
individual　physical　body；　—　the　chemical　elements　of　the　antithesis　are　oxygen　and　hydrogen。　The
metals；　however；　which　have　been　integrated　in　the　process；　also　receive　only　an　abstract
integration　from　that　abstract　middle　term；　a　reality　which　is　only　a　positing　of　their　difference；　an
oxide。　

The　condition　of　lime　as　an　oxide　lies　closest　to　the　condition　of　metals；　due　to　the　inner
indifference　of　their　solid　nature。　But　nature's　inability　to　hold　on　to　the　specific　concept　also　allows
individual　metals　to　change　so　far　in　the　opposite　direction　that　their　oxide　immediately　comes　to
resemble　acids。　It　is　well　known　that　chemistry　can　portray；　as　amalgamations　at　least；　the　metallic
components　of　lime　and　potash；　but　also　ammonia；　strontium；　barytes；　and　indeed；　even　of
different　soils；　and　thereby　depict　these　bodies　as　oxides。　To　be　sure；　the　chemical　elements　are
such　abstractions　that　when　they　are　in　the　form　of　gases；　in　which　they　become　manifest　for
themselves；　they　interpenetrate　like　light　and；　notwithstanding　their　ponderability；　their　materiality
and　impenetrability　reveal　themselves　here　to　be　raised　to　immateriality。　Furthermore；　oxygen　and
hydrogen　have　a　determination　so　dependent　upon　the　individuality　of　the　body　that　the
components　of　oxygen　are　determined　in　oxides；　as　a　base　in　general；　and；　in　the　opposite
direction；　as　an　acid；　just　as；　by　contrast；　the　acidic　determination　in　hydrochloric　acid　reveals　itself
as　hydrogenation。　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　§　254。

In　contrast　to　the　solid　indifference　of　the　particular　corporeality　stands　physical　brittleness；　the
being　of　particularity　grasped　together　in　the　unity　of　selfhood　（brass　represents　the　totality；　as　the
unification　of　sulphur　and　metal）。　This　brittleness　is　the　real　possibility　of　combustion；　the　reality　of
which　is　itself　the　self…devouring　being　for　itself　fire；　and　remains　an　external　entity。　Fire　mediates
the　inner　difference　of　the　combustible　body　through　the　physical　element　of　abstract　negativity；
air；　with　a　being　as　posited　or　reality；　and　enhances　it　to　acidity。　Air；　however；　decompo