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proposition。
Thus we have gained nothing as regards the cognition of myself as
object； by the analysis of the consciousness of my Self in thought。
The logical exposition of thought in general is mistaken for a
metaphysical determination of the object。
Our Critique would be an investigation utterly superfluous； if there
existed a possibility of proving a priori； that all thinking beings
are in themselves simple substances； as such； therefore； possess the
inseparable attribute of personality； and are conscious of their
existence apart from and unconnected with matter。 For we should thus
have taken a step beyond the world of sense； and have penetrated
into the sphere of noumena； and in this case the right could not be
denied us of extending our knowledge in this sphere； of establishing
ourselves； and； under a favouring star； appropriating to ourselves
possessions in it。 For the proposition： 〃Every thinking being； as
such； is simple substance；〃 is an a priori synthetical proposition；
because in the first place it goes beyond the conception which is
the subject of it； and adds to the mere notion of a thinking being the
mode of its existence； and in the second place annexes a predicate
（that of simplicity） to the latter conception… a predicate which it
could not have discovered in the sphere of experience。 It would follow
that a priori synthetical propositions are possible and legitimate；
not only； as we have maintained； in relation to objects of possible
experience； and as principles of the possibility of this experience
itself； but are applicable to things in themselves… an inference which
makes an end of the whole of this Critique； and obliges us to fall
back on the old mode of metaphysical procedure。 But indeed the
danger is not so great； if we look a little closer into the question。
There lurks in the procedure of rational Psychology a paralogism；
which is represented in the following syllogism：
That which cannot be cogitated otherwise than as subject； does not
exist otherwise than as subject； and is therefore substance。
A thinking being； considered merely as such； cannot be cogitated
otherwise than as subject。
Therefore it exists also as such； that is； as substance。
In the major we speak of a being that can be cogitated generally and
in every relation； consequently as it may be given in intuition。 But
in the minor we speak of the same being only in so far as it regards
itself as subject； relatively to thought and the unity of
consciousness； but not in relation to intuition； by which it is
presented as an object to thought。 Thus the conclusion is here arrived
at by a Sophisma figurae dictionis。*
*Thought is taken in the two premisses in two totally different
senses。 In the major it is considered as relating and applying to
objects in general； consequently to objects of intuition also。 In
the minor； we understand it as relating merely to
self…consciousness。 In this sense； we do not cogitate an object； but
merely the relation to the self…consciousness of the subject； as the
form of thought。 In the former premiss we speak of things which cannot
be cogitated otherwise than as subjects。 In the second； we do not
speak of things； but of thought all objects being abstracted）； in
which the Ego is always the subject of consciousness。 Hence the
conclusion cannot be； 〃I cannot exist otherwise than as subject〃；
but only 〃I can； in cogitating my existence； employ my Ego only as the
subject of the judgement。〃 But this is an identical proposition； and
throws no light on the mode of my existence。
That this famous argument is a mere paralogism； will be plain to any
one who will consider the general remark which precedes our exposition
of the principles of the pure understanding； and the section on
noumena。 For it was there proved that the conception of a thing； which
can exist per se… only as a subject and never as a predicate；
possesses no objective reality； that is to say； we can never know
whether there exists any object to correspond to the conception；
consequently； the conception is nothing more than a conception； and
from it we derive no proper knowledge。 If this conception is to
indicate by the term substance； an object that can be given； if it
is to become a cognition； we must have at the foundation of the
cognition a permanent intuition； as the indispensable condition of its
objective reality。 For through intuition alone can an object be given。
But in internal intuition there is nothing permanent； for the Ego is
but the consciousness of my thought。 If then； we appeal merely to
thought； we cannot discover the necessary condition of the application
of the conception of substance… that is； of a subject existing per se…
to the subject as a thinking being。 And thus the conception of the
simple nature of substance； which is connected with the objective
reality of this conception； is shown to be also invalid； and to be； in
fact； nothing more than the logical qualitative unity of
self…consciousness in thought； whilst we remain perfectly ignorant
whether the subject is composite or not。
Refutation of the Argument of Mendelssohn for the
Substantiality or Permanence of the Soul。
This acute philosopher easily perceived the insufficiency of the
common argument which attempts to prove that the soul… it being
granted that it is a simple being… cannot perish by dissolution or
decomposition； he saw it is not impossible for it to cease to be by
extinction； or disappearance。 He endeavoured to prove in his Phaedo；
that the soul cannot be annihilated； by showing that a simple being
cannot cease to exist。 Inasmuch as； be said； a simple existence cannot
diminish； nor gradually lose portions of its being； and thus be by
degrees reduced to nothing （for it possesses no parts； and therefore
no multiplicity）； between the moment in which it is； and the moment in
which it is not； no time can be discovered… which is impossible。 But
this philosopher did not consider that； granting the soul to possess
this simple nature； which contains no parts external to each other and
consequently no extensive quantity； we cannot refuse to it any less
than to any other being； intensive quantity； that is； a degree of
reality in regard to all its faculties； nay； to all that constitutes
its existence。 But this degree of reality can become less and less
through an infinite series of smaller degrees。 It follows；
therefore； that this supposed substance… this thing； the permanence of
which is not assured in any other way； may； if not by decomposition；
by gradual loss （remissio） of its powers （consequently by
elanguescence； if I may employ this expression）； be changed into
nothing。 For consciousness itself has always a degree； which may be
lessened。* Consequently the faculty of being conscious may be
diminished； and so with all other faculties。 The permanence of the
soul； therefore； as an object of the internal sense； remains