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idea of the subject of our thought； and the conceptions of reason gave
no ground to maintain the contrary proposition。 The advantage is
pletely on the side of Pneumatism； although this theory itself
passes into naught； in the crucible of pure reason。
Very different is the case when we apply reason to the objective
synthesis of phenomena。 Here； certainly； reason establishes； with much
plausibility； its principle of unconditioned unity； but it very soon
falls into such contradictions that it is pelled； in relation to
cosmology； to renounce its pretensions。
For here a new phenomenon of human reason meets us… a perfectly
natural antithetic； which does not require to be sought for by
subtle sophistry； but into which reason of itself unavoidably falls。
It is thereby preserved； to be sure； from the slumber of a fancied
conviction… which a merely one…sided illusion produces； but it is at
the same time pelled； either； on the one hand； to abandon itself to
a despairing scepticism； or； on the other； to assume a dogmatical
confidence and obstinate persistence in certain assertions； without
granting a fair hearing to the other side of the question。 Either is
the death of a sound philosophy； although the former might perhaps
deserve the title of the euthanasia of pure reason。
Before entering this region of discord and confusion； which the
conflict of the laws of pure reason （antinomy） produces； we shall
present the reader with some considerations； in explanation and
justification of the method we intend to follow in our treatment of
this subject。 I term all transcendental ideas； in so far as they
relate to the absolute totality in the synthesis of phenomena；
cosmical conceptions； partly on account of this unconditioned
totality； on which the conception of the world…whole is based… a
conception； which is itself an idea… partly because they relate solely
to the synthesis of phenomena… the empirical synthesis； while； on
the other hand； the absolute totality in the synthesis of the
conditions of all possible things gives rise to an ideal of pure
reason； which is quite distinct from the cosmical conception； although
it stands in relation with it。 Hence； as the paralogisms of pure
reason laid the foundation for a dialectical psychology； the
antinomy of pure reason will present us with the transcendental
principles of a pretended pure （rational） cosmology… not； however；
to declare it valid and to appropriate it； but… as the very term of
a conflict of reason sufficiently indicates； to present it as an
idea which cannot be reconciled with phenomena and experience。
SECTION I。 System of Cosmological Ideas。
That We may be able to enumerate with systematic precision these
ideas according to a principle； we must remark； in the first place；
that it is from the understanding alone that pure and transcendental
conceptions take their origin； that the reason does not properly
give birth to any conception； but only frees the conception of the
understanding from the unavoidable limitation of a possible
experience； and thus endeavours to raise it above the empirical；
though it must still be in connection with it。 This happens from the
fact that； for a given conditioned； reason demands absolute totality
on the side of the conditions （to which the understanding submits
all phenomena）； and thus makes of the category a transcendental
idea。 This it does that it may be able to give absolute pleteness
to the empirical synthesis； by continuing it to the unconditioned
（which is not to be found in experience； but only in the idea）。 Reason
requires this according to the principle： If the conditioned is
given the whole of the conditions； and consequently the absolutely
unconditioned； is also given； whereby alone the former was possible。
First； then； the transcendental ideas are properly nothing but
categories elevated to the unconditioned； and they may be arranged
in a table according to the titles of the latter。 But； secondly； all
the categories are not available for this purpose； but only those in
which the synthesis constitutes a series… of conditions subordinated
to； not co…ordinated with； each other。 Absolute totality is required
of reason only in so far as concerns the ascending series of the
conditions of a conditioned； not； consequently； when the question
relates to the descending series of consequences； or to the
aggregate of the co…ordinated conditions of these consequences。 For；
in relation to a given conditioned； conditions are presupposed and
considered to be given along with it。 On the other hand； as the
consequences do not render possible their conditions； but rather
presuppose them… in the consideration of the procession of
consequences （or in the descent from the given condition to the
conditioned）； we may be quite unconcerned whether the series ceases or
not； and their totality is not a necessary demand of reason。
Thus we cogitate… and necessarily… a given time pletely elapsed
up to a given moment； although that time is not determinable by us。
But as regards time future； which is not the condition of arriving
at the present； in order to conceive it； it is quite indifferent
whether we consider future time as ceasing at some point； or as
prolonging itself to infinity。 Take； for example； the series m； n；
o； in which n is given as conditioned in relation to m； but at the
same time as the condition of o； and let the series proceed upwards
from the conditioned n to m （l； k； i； etc。）； and also downwards from
the condition n to the conditioned o （p； q； r； etc。）… I must
presuppose the former series； to be able to consider n as given； and n
is according to reason （the totality of conditions） possible only by
means of that series。 But its possibility does not rest on the
following series o； p； q； r； which for this reason cannot be
regarded as given； but only as capable of being given （dabilis）。
I shall term the synthesis of the series on the side of the
conditions… from that nearest to the given phenomenon up to the more
remote… regressive； that which proceeds on the side of the
conditioned； from the immediate consequence to the more remote； I
shal