118.
ARGUMENT:
thus it becomes quite definite for consciousness how its perceiving is essentially
constituted - that it is not a simple pure apprehension - but in its apprehension is at the
same time reflected out of the True and into itself
this return of consciousness into itself which is directly mingled with the pure
apprehension of the object -
this return into itself alters the truth
consciousness at once recognizes this aspect as its own and takes responsibility for it -
by doing so it will obtain the pure object in its purity
we have in perception the same as happened in sense certainty - the aspect of
consciousness being driven back into itself - but not as this happened in sense
certainty - not as if the truth of perception fell in consciousness
on the contrary consciousness recognizes that it is the untruth occurring in perception
that falls within it
but by this recognition it is able to supersede this untruth
it distinguishes its apprehension of the truth from the untruth - and since it undertakes
to make this correction itself - the truth qua truth of perception falls within
consciousness
consciousness no longer merely perceives - but is conscious of its reflection into itself
- and separates this from simple apprehension
COMMENTARY:
consciousness' perceiving is a simple apprehension -
the object of this apprehension is given form and content in the act of conscious
attention
the object of consciousness - is embraced by consciousness
prior to conscious apprehension - the object is unknown
the essence of the object of apprehension - the fact that it is unknown will be at the
heart of any conscious apprehension and characterization
and in so far as this is the case - the truth is never altered - it is rather given new
clothes
the object as unknown is the pure object -
this reality is the pre-conscious reality -
consciousness imposes its categories on its object of focus - and these categories
function as the phenomenal dimensions of the object -
reflection on any of the attributes of the object apprehended - is to raise questions -
it is here that the uncertainty of the apprehension emerges
this uncertainty is a reflective uncertainty
yes the object in consciousness - as now an object of consciousness - is subject to the
nature of consciousness - and that is the essential uncertainty of consciousness
in reflection the object is uncertain
so it is in reflection that the true nature of the object of consciousness is revealed -
it is revealed as uncertain - and thus in any final sense - unknown
so we can say consciousness does not just perceive - but it reflects on its perception
however it is not the object that reflects to consciousness
the object is made by consciousness and reflected on by consciousness
before its making the object is unknown - after its making the object is unknown -
however in the making - the uncertain making - the object is given the possibility of
utility and function
