ANTHROPOLOGY Author(s): IMMANUEL KANT and A. E. KROEGER Reviewed work(s): Source: The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, Vol.

13, No. 3 (July, 1879), pp. 281-289 Published by: Penn State University Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25667762 . Accessed: 16/12/2012 15:15
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KanVs

Anthropology.

281

ANTHROPOLOGY.
[TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF IMMANUEL KANT.] by a. e. kroeger.

? 29.?Concerning Imagination There Productive are

the According

Sensuous to

Power its Different

of

Productive Kinds. Power of

three different kinds These

of the Sensuous

Imagination. in space contemplation power of contemplation

in time (i?naginatio and associans), the relating power, which deals with the common derivation of our representations from each other. A. The Sensuous Power of Imagination
Power.

are the constructive power of the associating {imaginalio plastica),

as a Constructive

an artist can represent a as it bodily form palpably, he must have constructed it in his Power of Imagination, were, and the form is in that case a fiction, which, if it arises invol Before as in dreams, is called a phantasy, and does not to the artist; but which, if directed by free will, is belong called a composition or an invention. If the artist, further untarily,

more, works his products

after images that resemble the works of nature, are called natural; but if he works after images occur in nature, such objects are called fantastic, that do not ; and such works are', as it were, dream unnatural, caricatures of a waking man often and We (velut

pictures

cegri somnia vanoe finguntur enjoyingly play with our power of species). ? our and imagination ; but imagination also plays very often ? with us. frequently very inopportunely The play of imagination with us in our sleep is called dream But if it takes ing, and occurs even when we are healthy. when we as are awake, it an betrays unhealthy condition. the relaxation of all our faculties of external per of arbitrary motions, seems to be neces

place Sleep,

ception,

and specially

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282

The

Journal

of Speculative

Philosophy.

sary for all animals, nay, even in plants (in accordance with the analogy between the latter and the former), in order that they awake. But the the forces used up while may recuperate same seems to be the case in regard to dreams ; vital forces, if they were not always kept aroused dreams, would expire, and the deepest sleep would same time. If we do say bring death along at the so that our in sleep by

that we have had a profound nevertheless, it means, after all, probably nothing more than that dreams, we do not remember those dreams when This, waking up. each other quickly, may indeed, when our fancies succeed even when wTe ar awake ? as, for instance, when we happen are distrait; in which condition, when some one asks us what we we have been thinking about all the time? having gazed we answer, with fixed look at a certain point all the while ? ! If there were not on awakening many gaps in our Nothing links between the images of our dreams, memory (connecting we have passed over we which through inattention), and if were

necessarily sometimes, sleep, without

means

to arbitrarily conceived of the body that depend upon events ; while those movements are suspended. our free will, namely, those of the muscles, But we must not take the visions of our dreams to be revela of emotions which tions of an invisible world.

in the following night to begin dreaming again where we left off on the previous night, I do not know but we should Dreaming fancy that we were living in two different worlds. of nature to excite our vital force by is a wise arrangement are related

B.

The

Sensuous

Power

of Imagination
Power.

as an Associating

for a physiological explanation of this phenomenon, whatsoever one chooses is, after all, again a (which hypothesis hypothesis for instance, that of Descartes, with his so-called fiction)?as, none of these expla ideas in the brain. At any rate, material

is this : that empirical representations, which follow each other, effect a habit in the mind of connect one with the one preceding it. It is in vain to seek ing the last The law of association

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Kant's nations

Anthropology.

283

are pragmatical; that is, they cannot be used for any since we have no knowledge of the brain, purpose, practical the traces and the places therein, in which we might discover harmonized of representative impressions by sympathetically contact with each' other, as it were, at least mediately. The close vicinity however, oftentimes goes so far, and the power of imagination goes from the hundreth to the thousandth link often so quickly that it seems as if we had skipped cer tain

links in the chain of our representations, connecting not having become conscious of them ; so that we although often need I begin sion ?1

to ask ourselves, Where was I? At what point did and how did I arrive at this conclu the conversation,

(7. The

Sensuous

Power

of Imagination
Power.

as

Relating

I speak of In speaking about the relation of representations, of the manifold the union which results from the derivation from one common ground. In social intercourse it is in form a sort of nonsense, break ing off and disturbing all conversation, for people to jump from

to another utterly foreign subject; topic of discussion a bad habit, which is caused by the empirical association of one man that are of purely subjective origin. notions (In in one way, and otherwise notions are associated in another). is only when one topic of conversation It has been exhausted, and a short pause intervenes, that a person can introduce another made When the power of imagination is interesting subject. to roam about without rule or guidance, simply by the of representations that are not connected by change anything

one

for instance, by citing the latest news from But to start a conversation, gathering. as ascertained to the from the newspapers, would do violence Turkey, imagination should be turned of others, who cannot understand why conversation precisely on The mind needs for the communication of all its the subject of Turkey. thoughts as in a sermon. a certain order, as much in conversation

1Hence a person who starts a social conversation must begin with that which is near and present to him, and thus gradually lead on to that which ismore remote, The bad weather in so far as he can make it interesting. is, for this purpose, an in from the street and enters a social for any one who comes excellent medium

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Philosophy.

the brain gets so confused that a person who comes objective, from a conversation of this kind feels as if he had been dream There must always be a theme, as well in solitary think as in the communication of thoughts^ by which we connect ing the manifold of our representations ; and hence the under also must always be einployQd in our thinking ; but in standing the present instance of association the play of imagination fol lows the laws of sensuousness,-which furnishes the material ing. without for the imagination. consciousness Hence the association is here formed of a rule, although according to a rule, sensuousness of ; or, it is here formed conformably to

though not derived from the understanding. relation (affinitas) recalls here to mind an ana relation ? taken from the science of chem logical reciprocal of two specifically material distinct, istry? ingredients, upon each other and striving to effect a unity ; intimately acting in which case this uniting of both, forms a third body, with that can be produced only by the union of two hetero qualities The word geneous elements. and understanding accord towards the production of our cognition that it seems as if the one were the product of the other, or as if both had a common case ; at any origin, which, however, cannot be the elements how heterogeneous rate, it is to us incomprehensible can from one and the same source.2 originate
2 The two first mentioned of our representations might and the third a dynamical (of mlargement), is produced ? as, whereby an entirely new substance (of generation), a neutral salt in chemistry. The play of forces in inanimate as well kinds of the combination combinations

namely, the understanding,

our In spite of their heterogeneousness, so assimilate sensuousness of their own

be called mathematical combination

upon the analysis and at a cognition thereof our perception of their effects; but the highest cause and the simple only through are for us attainable. What wherein their substance can be analyzed components propa may be the cause, that all organic beings of which we have knowledge

for instance, as animate nature, in the soul as well as the body, is based It is true that we arrive synthesis of the heterogeneous.

two sexes, which we call the male gate their species only through the union of the it so only as and the female? We surely cannot assume that the Creator arranged ifHe were at play, or for curiosity's sake, and for no other cause than to have such It seems, rather, that it an arrangement of ours? set at work on this earth-globe of from out the substance must be impossible to have organic creatures originate in any other manner than by means of two sexes. our earth-globe by propagation ? In what darkness does human reason lose itself here when it attempts to fathom nay, merely to guess at, the origin!

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Kant's

Anthropology.

285

? ? 30.

Illustrations.

The power of imagination is, however, not so creative as is asserted. cannot imagine rational beings as sometimes We existing sculptor sketches mind with to the in any other shape than the human form. Hence the or painter, who sketches an or a god, always angel a human other figure seems to his Every being. have ingredients which cannot be united in his mind construction of a rational being; for instance, wings, But he feels at perfect liberty in regard to

talons, or hoofs. the size.

sickly mind have of an inner impulse to throw themselves volun a steep tarily down from height. ? as, when the Seeing nauseating matters swallowed by others suck out and swallow the dirt of their children's Tungusees noses ? in the same towards vomiting, affects the spectator manner as if he himself were forced to do it. of the Swiss ? The Homesickness and, as I have been told

Deception, occurring through the force of the imagination, in a man that he believes he reaches sometimes such a degree or feels outside of himself what, after all, is sees merely in his, head. Hence the dizziness which seizes a person who looks down into an abyss, although he stands on a platform large even has hold of a enough to prevent his felling, and perhaps of stout railing. odd is the fear which some people Very

the places where they have tasted the very simple enjoyments of life, which yearning is prod \ced by recalling the pictures of their youthful years, with their freedom of care, and neigh after When they return, however, borly social intercourse. a longer absence, they find themselves and thus become cured. expectations, in their greatly deceived It is true, they attribute has changed at home while

also of Westphalians and Pom of experience, by a General befalls them when they eranians from certain districts?which are removed to other countries, is the effect of a yearning for

this to a notion that everything were gone ; but the real cause of their disappointment is, they that they cannot take back their youth to the scenes of their 1 9

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The Journal of SpeculativePhilosophy.

occurs It is curious, however, that this homesickness youth. a province poor in money, more amongst the country people of but for that very reason more closely united by ties of brother than amongst those who are busy mak hood and cousinships, have chosen patria ubi bene for their motto. ing money, and If we have heard of some one that he is a villain, we are inclined and thus to think that we can see malice with written in his face ; perception imagination Helvetius tells is added. sentiment, especially when passion moon saw in the of a lady who, looking through a telescope, The the shadows of two lovers. clergyman, who took the " those after she was dotie with it, said : Oh, no, madam, glass a church." are the two towers of still further the effect produced by in a The sight of a person through sympathy. imagination, convulsive or epileptic attack inclines others to similar cramp a desire like movements, just as yawning infects others with to yawn ; and Dr. Michaelis says, in speaking of a man belong to the army in North America, who was seized by violent ing or three of the spectators fell into the same raving, that two was Hence but temporary. condition, though the attack not visit mad should weak-nerved people, hypochondriacs, To all add houses avoid also of curiosity. from motives however, they Usually, It will it of their own accord, fearing for their minds. be found that persons of a lively disposition, when very this we may consolidates into one

some one who is speaking in a passion listening to are involuntarily is anger), the passion when (especially to that into a play of their features corresponding betrayed attentively that married also pretend to have observed people People a similarity of assume live happily together gradually who features ; and the explanation given is, that they married each of this similarity (similis simili gaudet), other on account which, nature however, is wrong.
passion.

in the instinct of the sexes, For, in the persons who impels rather towards differences are to fall in love with each other, so that all the manifoldness which nature has implanted in their germs may be developed. The explanation is, that the intimacy and inclination, where

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Kant's

Anthropology.

287

with, in their private intercourse, being close together, they look often and long into each other's eyes, produces sympa thetic, similar plays of features, which in course of time become as Finally, we may count belonging to this unintentional play of imagination, which is then called of the productive power the inclination to unmalicious lying, which is always phantasy, found in children, and in grown people (however good-natured they are otherwise) inherited disease. permanent forms of countenance.

events

now and then, and sometimes almost as an In these cases, when a story is being told, and adventures crowd upon each other like a down-roll

As

being constantly cast forth by the imag ing snow-avalanche, ination without the story-telling person's having any other to make benefit to himself in view than himself interesting. an instance, I may cite Shakespeare's two men in buckram staff, who changed

knight, John Fal into eleven before he

finished his story.

? 31.?Concerning ing the Play Since

the Means of the

of Arousing of

and Temper

Power

Imagination.

occurs which recalls to the mind the representation something of that object which seemed to have been eradicated for a while a German Thus prince, a noble-minded by other matters. man,

the power of imagination is more rich and fruitful in than our sensuousness, it becomes, when pas representations more active under the absence than it is in sion is added to it, that is to say, more aroused when the presence of its object;

a rough warrior, had undertaken a voy though otherwise age to Italy in order to rid himself of his love for a lady of common birth; but on his return, the first view of her dwell stirred up his imagination far more powerfully than permanent intercourse could have done, and he yielded with out further delay to his inclination, which happily fulfilled all ing-place This disease, expectations. being is incurable tastic power of imagination, For marriage is truth. (Eripitur riage. his the effect of a fan through persona, manet mar res. except

Lucretius.)

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The Journal of Speculative Philosophy.

The fantastic power of imagination creates a sort of self of the in communion, and, although merely with phenomena It gives ternal sense, yet in analogy with the external senses. life to night, and elevates it above its actual state ; even as the in broad daylight is to be seen only as an moon, which insig nificant cloud, makes a grand figure on the skies at evening time. It is at work in him who lucubrates in the silence or

of

absurd and utterly unfit for conversation ;whereas at that time we rather ask what has happened new in the house, or in the world at large, or continue our labors of the previous day? is ap The reason is, because that which is in itself mere play in the day propriate for the relaxation of the forces exhausted man who has time, while that which is business is proper for the been strengthened by his night's rest, and been born anew, as
it were.

experience a decline of his mental it is a very faculties as the result of this bad habit. Hence of psychological for such a per useful rule, as a measure diet, son to tame his imagination by going to sleep early in order tb be able to rise early ; although women and hypochondriacs? who generally derive their morbid state from that very cause ? prefer the opposite. can we still listen late at which Why night to ghost-stories, soon after in the morning, getting up, appear to everybody of time he will

the night, disputes with his imaginary opponent, or, pacing his room, builds castles in the air. But everything that ap pears to such a one important at that time loses all its impor tance on the next morning following the night's sleep, and in the course

men

are of the power of imagination shortcomings (vitia) worse still, rule is either unbridled, or, these : that its working The latter is the worst fault. less (effrenis aut perversa). For the first class of production might, after all, find a place in in the world of fable ; but the latter have a possible world ? no place in any world, since they contradict each other. As an I may refer to instance of the former class of imaginations, the stone figures of the Arabs the shudder with which regard The and animals looking upon so frequently met with in the Lybian desert; them, as they do, as human beings petrified by

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Raphael the curse. This

and Michael

Angelo.

289

This

can, after all, always take a side-turn; as, for instance, in the case of the poet, of whom Cardinal Este asked, when he was " presented with a copy of the book dedicated to him : Master " stuff? Ariosto, where the devil did you pick up all this mad sort of phantasy but ruleless wealth; the imagination plays happy victim
ideas.

But it is a contra imagination. diction when the same Arabs imagine that these images of animals will, on the day of universal resurrection, snarl at the and upbraid him because he was not artist who made them, able to endow them with souls. A merely unbridled phantasy is unbridled

is superabundance

phantasy unlimited

has

no

revel in the mind, and the un over the course of his control whatever

and luxury from pure approaches insanity, wherein

or of equality (as in the French (as in the English Parliament), consist of mere formalities. which, however, Parliament), it is better that mankind should have were it Nevertheless, but the semblance ably deprived of it. of this ennobling good, than feel itself palp

It is still to be remarked that the political artist has, as web as his sesthetical brother, the power to rule and govern the world (mundus vult decipi) by the power of imagination, which he causes to pass current as actuality; for instance, of liberty

RAPHAEL
TRANSLATED FROM THE

AND MICHAEL
GERMAN OF HERMANN

ANGELO.
GRIMM BY IDA M. ELIOT.

is elated at Florence, in the the second, year nothing of importance; written in the same year, is only a few lines in length, and is to Domenico addressed Alfani : letters me Riciardo's he writes, "send you, Menecho," love-songs, which tell of the passion that once overcame him when travelling." Also, he wished for a sermon, and asked "I beg to send it to him ; and he would

The

first of Raphael's 1508, and contains

to remind Cesarino Menecho 1 9 * XIII?19

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