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Full Idea
What is known a priori may not be necessary, if we know a priori that we ourselves exist and are actual.
Gist of Idea
Knowing our own existence is a priori, but not necessary
Source
Philip Kitcher (A Priori Knowledge Revisited [2000], §II)
Book Ref
'New Essays on the A Priori', ed/tr. Boghossian,P /Peacocke,C [OUP 2000], p.69
A Reaction
Compare Idea 12428, which challenges the inverse of this relationship. This one looks equally convincing, and Kripke adds other examples of contingent a priori truths, such as those referring to the metre rule in Paris.
Related Idea
Idea 12428 Many necessities are inexpressible, and unknowable a priori [Kitcher]
| 12428 | Many necessities are inexpressible, and unknowable a priori [Kitcher] |
| 12429 | Knowing our own existence is a priori, but not necessary [Kitcher] |
| 12430 | Classical logic is our preconditions for assessing empirical evidence [Kitcher] |
| 12431 | I believe classical logic because I was taught it and use it, but it could be undermined [Kitcher] |