Single Idea 5524

[catalogued under 10. Modality / D. Knowledge of Modality / 1. A Priori Necessary]

Full Idea

Mathematical propositions are always a priori judgments and are never empirical, because they carry necessity with them, which cannot be derived from experience.

Gist of Idea

Maths must be a priori because it is necessary, and that cannot be derived from experience

Source

Immanuel Kant (Critique of Pure Reason [1781], B014)

Book Reference

Kant,Immanuel: 'Critique of Pure Reason', ed/tr. Guyer,P /Wood,A W [CUO 1998], p.144


A Reaction

Personally I like the idea that maths is the 'science of patterns', but then I take it that the features of patterns will be common to all possible worlds. Presumably a proposition could be contingent, and yet true in all possible worlds.