philosophy of nature-第12节
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past one。
§ 263。
The powers of this process； which nature leaves behind as independent entities beyond earth； are
the connection and the position of the earth in the solar system； its solar； lunar； and cometary life；
the inclination of its axis to the orbit and the magnetic axis。 Standing in closer relation to these axes
and their polarisation is the distribution of sea and land： the compact spreading of land in the north；
the division and sharp tapering of the parts towards the south； the further separation into an old
and a new world； and the further division of the former into continents distinguished from one
another and from the new world by their physical； organic； and anthropological character； to
which an even younger and more immature continent is joined； — mountain ranges； and so on。
§ 264。
The physical organisation of the earth shows a series of stages of granitic activity； involving a core
of mountains in which the trinity of determinations is displayed； and leads through other forms
which are partly transitions and modifications； though its totality remains the existing foundation；
only more unequal and unformed within itself This is partly also an elaboration of its moments into
a more determinate difference and more abstract mineral moments； such as metals and fossil
objects generally； until it loses itself in mechanical stratifications and alluvial terrains lacking any
immanent formative development。
§ 265。
This crystal of life； the inanimate organism of the earth which has its concept in the sidereal
connection but possesses its own process as a presupposed past； is the immediate subject of the
meteorological process； which as an organised whole is in its complete determinateness。 In this
objective subject the formerly elementary process is now objective and individual； — the
suspension of immediacy takes place； through which general individuality now emerges for itself
and life becomes vital or real。 The first real vitality； which the fructified earth brings forth； is
vegetable nature。
B。
Vegetable Nature
§ 266。
The generality and individuality of life are still immediately identical in immediate vitality。
Consequently the process by which the plant differentiates itself into distinct parts and sustains
itself is one in which it comes out of itself and falls into pieces as several individuals； for which the
whole plant is more the basis than a subjective unity。 A further consequence is that the
differentiation of the organic parts is only a superficial metamorphosis； and one part can easily pass
into the function of the other。
§ 267。
The process of shaping and reproduction of the single individual coincides in this way with the
process of genus formation。 And because self…like generality； the subjective unit of individuality；
does not separate itself from real particularisation but is only submerged in it； the plant does not
move from its place； nor is it a selfinterrupting individualisation； but a continually flowing
self…nourishment。 It does not relate itself to individualised inorganic nature； but to the general
elements。 Nor is it capable of feeling and animal warmth。
§ 268。
Insofar； however； as life is essentially the concept which realises itself only through self…division
and reunification； the plant processes also diverge from each other。 （1） But their inner process of
formation is to be seen partly as the positive； merely immediate transformation of nourishment
supplies into the specific nature of plants。 On the one hand； and for the sake of essential simplicity；
this is the division into abstract generality of an implicitly inseparable individuality； as into the
negative of vitality； becoming wood。 But on the other hand； on the side of individuality and vitality；
this is the process specifying itself in an outward direction。
§ 269。
（2） This is the unfolding of the parts as organs of different elementary relations； the division partly
into the relation to earth and into the air and water process which mediates them。 Since the plant
does not hold itself back in inner； subjective generality against outer individuality； it is equally torn
out of itself by light； from which it takes the specific confirmation and individualisation of itself
knotted and multiplied into a multiplicity of individuals。
§ 270。
Since； however； the reproduction of the individual vegetable as a singularity is not the subjective
return into itself a feeling of self but inwardly becomes wooden； the production of the self of the
plant consequently moves in an outward direction。 The plant brings forth its light as its own self in
the blossom； in which the neutral colour green is determined as a specific coloration； or； too； light
is produced as a white colour； purified from the dark。
§ 271。
Since the plant in this way offers itself as a sacrifice； this exteriorisation is at the same time the
concept realised by the process； the plant； which has produced itself as a whole； but which in the
process has come into opposition with itself。 This； the highest point of the process； is therefore the
beginning of the process of sexual differentiation which occurs in the process of genus formation。
§ 272。
（3） The process of genus formation； as distinct from the processes of formation and reproduction
of the individual； is an excess in the actuality of plant nature； because those processes also directly
involve a dissolution into many individuals。 But in the concept the process is； like subjectivity which
has converged with itself that generality in which the plant suspends the immediate individuality of
its organic life； and thereby grounds the transition into the higher organism。
C。
The Animal Organism
§ 273。
Organic individuality exists as subjectivity insofar as its individuality is not merely immediate
actuality but also and to the same extent suspended； exists as a concrete moment of generality；
and in its outward process the organism inwardly preserves the unity of the self This is the nature
of the animal which； in the reality and externality of individuality； is equally； by contrast；
immediately and inwardly self…reflected individuality； inwardly existing subjective generality。
§ 274。
The animal has contingent self…movement because its subjectivity is； like light and fire； ideality torn
from gravity； — a free time； which； as removed at the same time from real externality； determines
its place on the basis of inner chance。 Bound up with this is the animal's possession of a voice in
which its subjectivity； existing in and for itself dominates the abstract ideality of time and space；
and manifests its self…movement as a free vibration within itself。 It has animal warmth； as a
permanent preservation of the shape； interrupted intussusception； but primarily feeling； as the
individuality which in its determinacy is immediately general for itself and really selfdifferentiating
individuality。
§ 275。
The animal organism； as living generality； is the concept which passes through its three
determinations； each of which is in itself the same total identity of substantial unity and； at the same
time and as determined for itself by the form； is the transition into others； so that the totality results
from this process。 It is only as this selfreproducing entity； not as an existing one； that the animal
organism is living。
§ 276。
The animal organism is therefore： （a） a simple； general being in itself in its externality； whereby real
determinacy is immediately taken up as particularity into the general； and is thereby the
unseparated identity of the subject with itself； — sensibility； — （b） particularity； as excitability from
the outside and； on the other hand； the counter…effect coming from the outward movement of the
subject； — irritability； — （c） the unity of these moments； the negative return to itself through the
relation of externality； and thereby the generation and positing of itself as an individual； —
reproduction。 Inwardly； this is the reality and foundation of the first moments； and outwardly； this
is the articulation of the organism and its armament。
§ 277。
These three moments of the concept have their reality in three systems； namely； the nervous
system； the circulatory system； and the digestive system。 The first is in the systems of the bones
and sensory apparatus； whereas the second turns outwardly on two sides in the lungs and the
muscles。 The digestive system is； however； as a system of glands with skin and cellular tissue；
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