登陆注册
15424600000044

第44章 Chapter II(15)

It is in the applications of this view that we come to what must be regarded as downright fallacies.If,as Mill holds,an effect may be something absolutely disparate from the cause --a new thing which starts into existence when its antecedent occurs --we are led to another result.There is,then,no apparent reason why the same thing should not spring up in answer to different summonses.Not only is this possible,but,as Mill thinks,it constantly occurs.This is his doctrine of the 'Plurality of Causes.'A given cause,he holds,can only produce one effect.But a given effect may follow various causes.So long as the relation is merely one of arbitrary succession,not of continuity,this is obviously possible.The fully scientific view,I take it,would be that when we speak of 'cause and effect'we are really thinking of a single process regarded in different ways.We may analyse the process differently for different purposes,and infer the past from the future or the future from the past;but we assume that,if we could perfectly understand the whole process,there would be thorough continuity,and no abrupt supersession of one thing or one set of 'laws'by another.This continuity is precisely what Mill systematically denies.A cause,he holds,means an absolute beginning of a new effect.(70)The process becomes a series of distinct terms --a set of 'links'in a chain,not a flow of a stream.One remarkable case is enough to illustrate the point.When Bacon's claims to have founded a truly scientific theory are considered,it is generally said that his guess as to the nature of heat is a point in his favour.(71)Mill,however,takes this particular case as an instance of Bacon's errors.Bacon,he says,(72)'entirely overlooked the Plurality of Causes.All his rules imply the assumption,so contrary to what we now know of nature,that a phenomenon cannot have more than one cause.'Bacon was misguided enough to apply this to heat.Now,as Mill had already argued,heat may have several causes:the 'sun,'or 'friction,'or 'percussion,'or 'electricity,'or 'chemical action.'(73)Consequently,the attempt to find a single cause is doomed to failure.We shall find,not that one antecedent but,that one of several antecedents is always present.Clearly the 'sun'is not 'friction,'nor is 'percussion''electricity.'Each of those phrases indicates concrete facts involving various processes.

Heat,as a 'mode of motion,'occurs in them all,because all involve particular phases of movement.From the 'raw'fact,as it presents itself --'This body is hot'--I cannot say which of various laws represents the true antecedents in that case.The heat may have been caused by exposure to fire or by friction.In that sense,undoubtedly,one effect may really have any number of 'causes.'But replace all the conditions,and it is evident that there can be only one true analysis of the whole process.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 易烊千玺似水年华

    易烊千玺似水年华

    蓦然回首,相遇你,我惟用无悔,去温柔的埋葬那一段清音流年。月字成缺,站在孤独的夜空下,醉酒长啸,泪语问苍天,这暗流滚滚如江海的尘世间,还有多少人在思念疯长的深夜里孤独而又难过的哭泣?
  • 莱恩的传奇

    莱恩的传奇

    莱恩在小时候父亲就去世啦!他的母亲把莱恩从小带大的。可是,母亲在上山找药的时候被一帮土匪看到了。就找她要钱,可是莱恩家非常非常的穷没钱。就被土匪给杀害了,莱恩从此立誓言,将来把土匪一举消灭。
  • 仙门令

    仙门令

    正所谓'盛世恶人乱世鬼',当今世界,鬼怪大都退居深山老林,都市中的鬼怪,要么强横无比,要么就是死后含冤,不愿转世投胎的一类。可还有着这么一类人,他们渴望着成仙,渴望着永生不死,与日月同寿。当然,这是违背大自然规律的,也就是我们常讲的天道。他们为了自己的欲望,不惜代价的为之疯狂。逆天改命,寻龙夺脉。而我,就是阻止他们惊天阴谋的一员。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 长发飘飘已及腰

    长发飘飘已及腰

    一个女生与一个男生小时相遇,男生许下承诺是否能够实现。
  • 宇宙航海王

    宇宙航海王

    暗黑的大地,有阳光普照着。枯黄的大树,有雨水滋润着。而未知的星域,我将用鲜血铺就一条大路。辱我者,死。辱我同伴者,死——丁龙我会让整个大宇宙知道我们的名字——丁龙
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 高度集中的精力

    高度集中的精力

    不要认为自己在本职岗位上的努力是微不足道,物质的质地松散与坚硬取决于每一个分子、原子;国家、民族、企业的兴衰则取决于每一个人!狼群之所以可怕,就是因为它们一旦锁定目标,即不受任何干扰,每一个成员均一往无前地专注于这个目标。
  • 傲视苍穹:狂拽七少爷

    傲视苍穹:狂拽七少爷

    红衣尽煞血色染,朝如青丝暮成雪。白袍似雪灵息绕,九天嫡仙下凡尘。青衫拂袖倾城笑,桀骜一语奈我何?
  • 徒弟哪里跑

    徒弟哪里跑

    亿万年前,某只不负责任的...啊呸,美貌无比的小菜鸡...恩,小菜鸡误打误撞走进了净化之光,肉身尽毁,魂魄却被卷入了时空之门,钻进某人的神识里,从此开始了一段美好的爱情...不,修仙之路......摔~