Section 24
Original German
§ 24.
Der erste306.1 jener physiologischen Grundsätze subsumirt alle Erscheinungen, als Anschauungen im Raum und Zeit, unter den Begriff der Größe und ist so fern ein Princip der Anwendung der Mathematik auf Erfahrung. Der zweite subsumirt das eigentlich Empirische, nämlich die Empfindung, die das Reale der Anschauungen bezeichnet, nicht geradezu unter den Begriff der Größe, weil Empfindung keine Anschauung ist, die Raum oder Zeit enthielte, ob sie gleich den ihr correspondirenden Gegenstand in beide setzt; allein es ist zwischen Realität (Empfindungsvorstellung) und der Null, d. i. dem gänzlich Leeren der Anschauung, in der Zeit doch ein Unterschied, der eine Größe hat, da nämlich zwischen einem jeden gegebenen Grade Licht und der Finsterniß, zwischen einem jeden Grade Wärme und der gänzlichen Kälte, jedem Grad der Schwere und der absoluten Leichtigkeit, jedem Grade der Erfüllung des Raumes und dem völlig leeren Raume immer noch kleinere Grade gedacht werden können, so wie selbst zwischen einem Bewußtsein und dem völligen Unbewußtsein (psychologischer Dunkelheit) immer noch kleinere stattfinden; daher keine Wahrnehmung möglich ist, welche einen absoluten Mangel bewiese, z. B. keine psychologische Dunkelheit, die nicht als ein Bewußtsein betrachtet werden könnte, welches nur von anderem, stärkerem überwogen wird, und so in allen Fällen der Empfindung; weswegen der Verstand sogar Empfindungen, welche die eigentliche Qualität der empirischen Vorstellungen (Erscheinungen) ausmachen, anticipiren kann vermittelst des Grundsatzes, daß sie alle insgesammt, mithin das Reale aller Erscheinung Grade habe, welches die zweite Anwendung der Mathematik (mathesis intensorum) auf Naturwissenschaft ist.
306.1. Diese drei auf einander folgende Paragraphen werden schwerlich gehörig verstanden werden können, wenn man nicht das, was die Kritik über die Grundsätze sagt, dabei zur Hand nimmt; sie können aber den Nutzen haben, das Allgemeine derselben leichter zu übersehen und auf die Hauptmomente Acht zu haben.
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the complete German of the Prolegomena (AA IV 253–383, all §§1–60 and the Appendix), for fidelity, the steps of Kant’s argument, clarity and structure.
§ 24.
The first306.1 of those physiological principles subsumes all appearances, as intuitions in space and time, under the concept of magnitude, and is to that extent a principle for applying mathematics to experience. The second does not directly subsume the properly empirical element—namely sensation, which designates the real in intuitions—under the concept of magnitude. For sensation is no intuition that contains space or time, although it places its corresponding object in both. Yet in time there is a difference that has a magnitude between reality (the representation of sensation) and zero, that is, the complete emptiness of intuition. For between any given degree of light and darkness, between any degree of warmth and complete cold, any degree of weight and absolute lightness, any degree of the filling of space and entirely empty space, still smaller degrees can always be thought; just as, even between a consciousness and complete unconsciousness (psychological darkness), still smaller degrees always occur. Hence no perception is possible that would prove an absolute absence: for example, no psychological darkness that could not be regarded as a consciousness merely outweighed by another, stronger consciousness; and so it is in every case of sensation. The understanding can therefore anticipate even sensations, which constitute the proper quality of empirical representations (appearances), by means of the principle that all of them, and hence the real in every appearance, have degrees. This is the second application of mathematics (mathesis intensorum) to natural science.
306.1. These three consecutive sections will scarcely be properly understood unless one has at hand what the Critique says about the principles. They may, however, serve to make their general character easier to survey and to draw attention to their main moments.
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the same complete German text.
§ 24.
The first306.1 of these physiological principles brings all appearances, as intuitions in space and time, under the concept of magnitude. To that extent it is a principle for applying mathematics to experience. The second does not directly bring the properly empirical element under the concept of magnitude. That element is sensation, which indicates what is real in intuitions. Sensation is not an intuition that contains space or time, although it places its corresponding object in both. Yet in time there is a difference with a magnitude between reality, represented in sensation, and zero, that is, the completely empty intuition. For between any given degree of light and darkness, between any degree of heat and complete cold, between any degree of heaviness and absolute lightness, and between any degree of filling space and completely empty space, we can always think of still smaller degrees. In the same way there are always smaller degrees even between consciousness and complete unconsciousness, or psychological darkness. So no perception is possible that would prove an absolute absence. For example, there is no psychological darkness that could not be regarded as a consciousness merely outweighed by another, stronger one. The same holds in every case of sensation. This is why the understanding can even anticipate sensations, which make up the actual quality of empirical representations, or appearances. It does this through the principle that all sensations, and therefore what is real in every appearance, have degrees. This is the second application of mathematics to natural science: the mathematics of intensities (mathesis intensorum).
306.1. These three consecutive sections can hardly be properly understood without consulting what the Critique says about the principles. But they may help readers survey the general outline more easily and attend to the main points.
About this section
Section 24 is part of Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics by Immanuel Kant. This page sets the German original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is section 31 of 72 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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