Single Idea 6916

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 5. Existence-Essence]

Full Idea

Kant's philosophy is the contradiction of essence and existence; essence lies in the mind and existence in the senses; existence without essence is mere appearance, and essence without existence is mere idea.

Gist of Idea

For Kant, essence is mental and a mere idea, and existence is the senses and mere appearance

Source

report of Immanuel Kant (Critique of Pure Reason [1781]) by Ludwig Feuerbach - Principles of Philosophy of the Future §22

Book Reference

Feuerbach,Ludwig: 'Principles of the Philosophy of the Future', ed/tr. Vogel,M [Hackett 1986], p.35


A Reaction

The Sartrean challenge is that existence without essence is not mere appearance, but is the central feature of reality as it actually is. One might even flirt with the slogan 'existence is essence'.