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From this we perceive the possibility of cognizing a priori a law of

changes… a law; however; which concerns their form merely。 We merely

anticipate our own apprehension; the formal condition of which;

inasmuch as it is itself to be found in the mind antecedently to all

given phenomena; must certainly be capable of being cognized a priori。

  Thus; as time contains the sensuous condition a priori of the

possibility of a continuous progression of that which exists to that

which follows it; the understanding; by virtue of the unity of

apperception; contains the condition a priori of the possibility of

a continuous determination of the position in time of all phenomena;

and this by means of the series of causes and effects; the former of

which necessitate the sequence of the latter; and thereby render

universally and for all time; and by consequence; objectively; valid

the empirical cognition of the relations of time。



                   C。 THIRD ANALOGY。



      Principle of Coexistence; According to the Law

               of Reciprocity or Community。



   All substances; in so far as they can be perceived in space

    at the same time; exist in a state of complete reciprocity

                     of action。



                        PROOF。



  Things are coexistent; when in empirical intuition the perception of

the one can follow upon the perception of the other; and vice versa…

which cannot occur in the succession of phenomena; as we have shown in

the explanation of the second principle。 Thus I can perceive the

moon and then the earth; or conversely; first the earth and then the

moon; and for the reason that my perceptions of these objects can

reciprocally follow each other; I say; they exist contemporaneously。

Now coexistence is the existence of the manifold in the same time。 But

time itself is not an object of perception; and therefore we cannot

conclude from the fact that things are placed in the same time; the

other fact; that the perception of these things can follow each

other reciprocally。 The synthesis of the imagination in apprehension

would only present to us each of these perceptions as present in the

subject when the other is not present; and contrariwise; but would not

show that the objects are coexistent; that is to say; that; if the one

exists; the other also exists in the same time; and that this is

necessarily so; in order that the perceptions may be capable of

following each other reciprocally。 It follows that a conception of the

understanding or category of the reciprocal sequence of the

determinations of phenomena (existing; as they do; apart from each

other; and yet contemporaneously); is requisite to justify us in

saying that the reciprocal succession of perceptions has its

foundation in the object; and to enable us to represent coexistence as

objective。 But that relation of substances in which the one contains

determinations the ground of which is in the other substance; is the

relation of influence。 And; when this influence is reciprocal; it is

the relation of community or reciprocity。 Consequently the coexistence

of substances in space cannot be cognized in experience otherwise than

under the precondition of their reciprocal action。 This is therefore

the condition of the possibility of things themselves as objects of

experience。

  Things are coexistent; in so far as they exist in one and the same

time。 But how can we know that they exist in one and the same time?

Only by observing that the order in the synthesis of apprehension of

the manifold is arbitrary and a matter of indifference; that is to

say; that it can proceed from A; through B; C; D; to E; or

contrariwise from E to A。 For if they were successive in time (and

in the order; let us suppose; which begins with A); it is quite

impossible for the apprehension in perception to begin with E and go

backwards to A; inasmuch as A belongs to past time and; therefore;

cannot be an object of apprehension。

  Let us assume that in a number of substances considered as phenomena

each is completely isolated; that is; that no one acts upon another。

Then I say that the coexistence of these cannot be an object of

possible perception and that the existence of one cannot; by any

mode of empirical synthesis; lead us to the existence of another。

For we imagine them in this case to be separated by a completely

void space; and thus perception; which proceeds from the one to the

other in time; would indeed determine their existence by means of a

following perception; but would be quite unable to distinguish whether

the one phenomenon follows objectively upon the first; or is

coexistent with it。

  Besides the mere fact of existence; then; there must be something by

means of which A determines the position of B in time and; conversely;

B the position of A; because only under this condition can

substances be empirically represented as existing contemporaneously。

Now that alone determines the position of another thing in time

which is the cause of it or of its determinations。 Consequently

every substance (inasmuch as it can have succession predicated of it

only in respect of its determinations) must contain the causality of

certain determinations in another substance; and at the same time

the effects of the causality of the other in itself。 That is to say;

substances must stand (mediately or immediately) in dynamical

community with each other; if coexistence is to be cognized in any

possible experience。 But; in regard to objects of experience; that

is absolutely necessary without which the experience of these

objects would itself be impossible。 Consequently it is absolutely

necessary that all substances in the world of phenomena; in so far

as they are coexistent; stand in a relation of complete community of

reciprocal action to each other。

  The word community has in our language* two meanings; and contains

the two notions conveyed in the Latin communio and commercium。 We

employ it in this place in the latter sense… that of a dynamical

community; without which even the community of place (communio spatii)

could not be empirically cognized。 In our experiences it is easy to

observe that it is only the continuous influences in all parts of

space that can conduct our senses from one object to another; that the

light which plays between our eyes and the heavenly bodies produces

a mediating community between them and us; and thereby evidences their

coexistence with us; that we cannot empirically change our position

(perceive this change); unless the existence of matter throughout

the whole of space rendered possible the perception of the positions

we occupy; and that this perception can prove the contemporaneous

existence of these places only through their reciprocal influence; and

thereby also the coexistence of even the most remote objects… although

in this case the proof is only mediate。 Without community; every

perception (of a phenomenon in space) is separated from every other

and isolated; and the chain of empirical representations; that is;

of experience; must; with the appearance of a new object; begin

entirely de novo; without the least connection with preceding

representations; and without standing towards these even in the

relation of time。 My intention here is by no means to combat the

notion of empty space; for it may exist where our perceptions cannot

exist; inasmuch as they cannot reach thereto; and where; therefore; no

empirical perception of coexistence takes place。 But in this case it

is not an object of possible experience。



  *German。



  The following remarks may be useful in the way of explanation。 In

the mind; all phenomena; as contents of a possible experience; must

exist in community (communio) of apperception or consciousness; and in

so far as it is requisite that objects be represented as coexistent

and connected; in so far must they reciprocally determine the position

in time of each other and thereby constitute a whole。 If this

subjective community is to rest upon an objective basis; or to be

applied to substances as phenomena; the perception of one substance

must render possible the perception of another; and conversely。 For

otherwise succession; which is always found in perceptions as

apprehensions; would be predicated of external objects; and their

representation of their coexistence be thus impossible。 But this is

a reciprocal influence; that is to say; a real community

(commercium) of substances; without which therefore the empirical

relation of coexistence would be a notion beyond the reach of our

minds。 By virtue of this commercium; phenomena; in so far as they

are apart from; and nevertheless in connection with each other;

constitute a compositum reale。 Such composita are possible in many

different ways。 The three dynamical relations then; from which all

others spring; are those of inherence; consequence; and composition。



  Thes

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