9/18/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 1 Kant I Charles Manekin

04/21/2304/21/23 Modern Philosophy PHIL320Modern Philosophy PHIL320 11

Kant IKant I

Charles ManekinCharles Manekin


Topics of DiscussionTopics of Discussion

Life and WorksLife and Works Perceptions, Impressions and IdeasPerceptions, Impressions and Ideas Empiricist Theory of MeaningEmpiricist Theory of Meaning Association of IdeasAssociation of Ideas


Life and WorksLife and Works

Born (April 22, 1724) grew up, and died in East Prussia.

No life of diplomacy, tutoring, no excommunication. Pretty quiet.

Born into family of pietists in Koenigsberg, stress simple piety and good works over ceremonies of organized religion.

1740 – Attended college, studied logic and philosophy with disciple of Wolff.


Life and WorksLife and Works

1755 obtained “doctorate” and license to teach 1770 appointed professor of logic and metaphysics. 1755-1770: pre-”critical” years. 1770-1781: teaching Wolff, thinking Kant Critique of Pure Reason – First Edition published in 1781 –

barely noticed. Then, in rapid succession, Prolegomena, Groundworks of

the Metaphysics of Morals, Metaphysical First Principles of Natural Science, Second Edition of First Critique (1787), the Critique of Practical Reason (1790), Critique of Judgment (1793)


Introduction to ProlegomenaIntroduction to Prolegomena

We must first ask the question, We must first ask the question, “Whether Metaphysics is possible at “Whether Metaphysics is possible at all?”all?”• Certainly it is possible in a trivial sense; Certainly it is possible in a trivial sense;

one can talk and write about it.one can talk and write about it.• But is it capable of extending our But is it capable of extending our

knowledge about reality?knowledge about reality?


What Does Kant Mean by What Does Kant Mean by Metaphysics?Metaphysics?

Chief questions of metaphysics: existence of God, human freedom, the immortality of the soul.

Can we obtain knowledge about these?

Well, why not?


Reasons to believe there is no Reasons to believe there is no science called “metaphysics”science called “metaphysics”

Doesn’t seem to have advanced much. Philosophers have come to no

agreement. It is necessary to first be convinced that

metaphysics is possible, before one actually does metaphysics.

Goal of the Prolegomena – to convince the reader that metaphysics is possible.


The Criticism of Dogmatic The Criticism of Dogmatic MetaphysicsMetaphysics

What is “Dogmatic Metaphysics”?What is “Dogmatic Metaphysics”?• ““Dogmatic” does not mean “clinging to Dogmatic” does not mean “clinging to

irrational beliefs” or “accepted without irrational beliefs” or “accepted without argument.”argument.”

• Rather, it is the rationalistic philosophy Rather, it is the rationalistic philosophy associated with Descartes, Spinoza, and associated with Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz – and most important of all, Wolff.”Leibniz – and most important of all, Wolff.”

• All knowledge is or can become scientific…all All knowledge is or can become scientific…all things in the world are rationally things in the world are rationally comprehensible.”comprehensible.”

• The truths of philosophy can be deduced independent of The truths of philosophy can be deduced independent of all experience.all experience.


Hume Awakens Kant from his Hume Awakens Kant from his Dogmatic SlumbersDogmatic Slumbers

According to Kant, Hume destroyed According to Kant, Hume destroyed it.it.

“Every effect has a cause”. This cannot be deduced in a priori fashion, but only from experience, and only as a subjective necessity.

Hume misunderstood by his critics. They appealed to common sense.

Kant’s answer to Hume….


The Copernican RevolutionThe Copernican Revolution

Hitherto it has been assumed that all our knowledge must conform to objects. But all attempts to extend our knowledge of objects by establishing something in regard to them a priori, by means of concepts, have, on this assumption, ended in failure. We must therefore make trial whether we may not have more success in the tasks of metaphysics, if we suppose that objects must conform to our knowledge. This would agree better with what is desired, namely, that it should be possible to have knowledge of objects a priori, determining something in regard to them prior to their being given.


The Copernican RevolutionThe Copernican Revolution

We should then be proceeding precisely on the lines of Copernicus' primary hypothesis. Failing of satisfactory progress in explaining the movements of the heavenly bodies on the supposition that they all revolved round the spectator, he tried whether he might not have better success if he made the spectator to revolve and the stars to remain at rest. A similar experiment can be tried in metaphysics, as regards the intuition of objects. If intuition must conform to the constitution of the objects, I do not see how we could know anything of the latter a priori; but if the object (as object of the senses) must conform to the constitution of our faculty of intuition.


The Analytic Method in the The Analytic Method in the PrologomenaPrologomena

Assume the necessary and universal truth of the propositions of mathematics, geometry, etc. The question is then. What must be the conditions that allow for this to be the case?

Transcendental


Topics of DiscussionTopics of Discussion

Metaphysics as an a priori scienceMetaphysics as an a priori science The analytic/synthetic distinctionThe analytic/synthetic distinction Synthetic a priori judgments Synthetic a priori judgments How is pure mathematics possible? How is pure mathematics possible?


On the Sources of MetaphysicsOn the Sources of Metaphysics

The importance of the “sources” question.• For Kant, metaphysics cannot be an empirical science.• Its concepts (e.g., cause, substance, etc.) and its

maxims (e.g., ‘Effect effect has a cause”) must be a priori, i.e., not derived from experience.

“Pure” means, for Kant, pure of any empirical content.

Metaphysics is like mathematics (which is also pure and a priori), but differs in the objects and the maxims; it is philosophical, whereas mathematics is not.


Analytic and synthetic judgmentsAnalytic and synthetic judgments

“Analytic” or “explicative” judgments.• The predicate is implicitly thought in the

subject; the predicate-concept is contained within the subject-concept.

• This is not a subjective criterion; some judgments are not analytics for some people, not analytics for others.

• Example: “All bodies are extended” . No amplification of the subject, just analysis.

• Even judgments with empirical concepts can be analytic. “Gold is a yellow metal.”


Analytic and synthetic judgmentsAnalytic and synthetic judgments

“Synthetic” or “expansive” judgments.• The predicate is not even implicitly thought in

the subject; the predicate-concept is not contained within the subject-concept; it adds to it.

• Example: “All bodies have weight”. “Weight” amplifies my knowledge of body.

• When I make such a judgment, I put/think together the predicate and the subject concepts; hence the judgments are synthetic.


All Analytics Judgments are known All Analytics Judgments are known a prioria priori

All Analytic judgments are based on the Law of Contradiction. • Since the predicate is already contained within

the subject, the predicate cannot be denied without denying the subject, i.e., without contradiction

• In effect, they reduce to identity statements.• All bachelors are unmarried males.

Bachelors=df unmarried males All unmarried males are unmarried males


Are all synthetic propositions a Are all synthetic propositions a posteriori?posteriori?

Well, empirical judgments, i.e., judgments of Well, empirical judgments, i.e., judgments of experience, are.experience, are.

But – and here is the shock – there are some But – and here is the shock – there are some synthetic propositions that are synthetic propositions that are a prioria priori

How are mathematical judgments synthetic? How are mathematical judgments synthetic? ““7+5=12”. The subject concept involves a 7+5=12”. The subject concept involves a

combination of two numbers in a single number. combination of two numbers in a single number. But in order to have the concept of sum, i.e., of But in order to have the concept of sum, i.e., of adding of some units to another, we need some adding of some units to another, we need some features of experience.features of experience.

Mathematical judgments proceed by way of the Mathematical judgments proceed by way of the construction of concepts.construction of concepts.

Hume’s Fork Needs be a TridentHume’s Fork Needs be a Trident


Metaphysical judgments are Metaphysical judgments are syntheticsynthetic

Here, too, one can distinguish between judgments pertaining to metaphysics (“Substance underlies properties”) and metaphysical judgments (“Substance is permanent.”)

• The first is analytics, the second is not.• “The generation of a priori knowledge by

intuition (experience) and well as by concepts, in fine, of synthetical propositions a priori, especially in philosophical knowledge, constitutes the essential subject of metaphysics.”


Is Metaphysics Possible?Is Metaphysics Possible?

Well, the important judgments of metaphysics are synthetic and a priori.

So, are synthetic a priori judgments possible?

Well, mathematical judgments are synthetic a priori. And nobody disputes the mathematics.

So how are the synthetic a priori judgments of mathematics possible?


Transcendental QuestionsTranscendental Questions

How is pure mathematics possible?How is pure mathematics possible? How is pure natural science How is pure natural science

possible?possible? How is metaphysics in general How is metaphysics in general

possible?possible? How is metaphysics as a science How is metaphysics as a science

possible?possible?

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9/18/2015 Modern Philosophy PHIL320 1 Kant I Charles Manekin