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Single Idea 16912

[filed under theme 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 2. Origin of Concepts / a. Origin of concepts ]

Full Idea

Concepts are of such a nature that we can make some of them ourselves a priori, without standing in any immediate relation to the object; namely concepts that contain the thought of an object in general, such as quantity or cause.

Gist of Idea

Some concepts can be made a priori, which are general thoughts of objects, like quantity or cause

Source

Immanuel Kant (Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysic [1781], 282)

Book Ref

Kant,Immanuel: 'Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysic', ed/tr. Lucas,Peter G. [Manchester UP 1971], p.37


A Reaction

'Quantity' seems to be the scholastic idea, of something having a magnitude (a big pebble, not six pebbles).


The 12 ideas with the same theme [general ideas on the origin of mental concepts]:

Concepts are ordered, and show eternal possibilities, deriving from God [Leibniz, by Arthur,R]
Some concepts can be made a priori, which are general thoughts of objects, like quantity or cause [Kant]
We start with images, then words, and then concepts, to which emotions attach [Nietzsche]
Whatever their origin, concepts survive by being useful [Nietzsche]
We use concepts to master our fears; saying 'death' releases us from confronting it [Cioran]
We reach concepts by clarification, or by definition, or by habitual experience [Price,HH]
The mind does not lift concepts from experience; it creates them, and then applies them [Geach]
The mind conceptualizes objects; yet objects impinge upon the mind [Wiggins]
Nobody knows how concepts are acquired [Fodor]
The concept 'red' is tied to what actually individuates red things [Peacocke]
Concepts and generalisations result from brain 'global mapping' by 'reentry' [Edelman/Tononi, by Searle]
Concepts arise when the brain maps its own activities [Edelman/Tononi]