Single Idea 16257

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 6. Metaphysics as Conceptual]

Full Idea

The Kantian strain survives in the notion that metaphysics is not about the world, but about our 'conceptual system', especially as what structures our thought about the world. This keeps it a priori, and so not about the world itself.

Gist of Idea

Kant survives in seeing metaphysics as analysing our conceptual system, which is a priori

Source

Tim Maudlin (The Metaphysics within Physics [2007], 3)

Book Reference

Maudlin,Tim: 'The Metaphysics within Physics' [OUP 2007], p.78


A Reaction

Strawson would embody this view, I suppose. I take our conceptual system to be largely a reflection of (and even creation of) the world, and not just an arbitrary conventional attempt to grasp the world. Analysing concepts partly analyses the world.

Related Idea

Idea 16256 For Kant metaphysics must be necessary, so a priori, so can't be justified by experience [Kant, by Maudlin]