Means

The means is the mediating link between purpose and result. In teleology: the purpose employs the means in order to realize itself. The means is ambiguous: (1) serving --- used by the purpose, (Ch. 2) independent --- has its own laws (mechanics, chemism). The cunning of reason: the purpose lets the means do the work, preserving itself in the process. Example: a tool (hammer) as means between intention (driving in a nail) and result (nail in the wood). The means is more objective than the subjective purpose: it remains, while purposes change. The dialectical point: the means is not merely passive, but shows the objectivity that the purpose must recognize.