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Single Idea 18796

[filed under theme 10. Modality / C. Sources of Modality / 4. Necessity from Concepts ]

Full Idea

Whatever agrees with the formal conditions of experience is possible, ...and that whose connection with the actual is determined in accordance with general conditions of experience is (exists) necessarily.

Gist of Idea

Formal experience conditions show what is possible, and general conditions what is necessary

Source

Immanuel Kant (Critique of Pure Reason [1781], B266/A218)

Book Ref

Kant,Immanuel: 'Critique of Pure Reason', ed/tr. Guyer,P /Wood,A W [CUO 1998], p.321

A Reaction

This is the Kantian view of necessity, as more concerned with how we think than with how the world is. I think there are necessities in reality, and philosophy endeavours to discern what they are (despite the mockery of scientists).

Related Idea

Idea 18795 A concept is logically possible if non-contradictory (but may not be actually possible) [Kant]

The 13 ideas with the same theme [necessity based on relations of concepts]:

24030 3+4=7 is necessary because we cannot conceive of seven without including three and four [Descartes]
18796 Formal experience conditions show what is possible, and general conditions what is necessary [Kant]
22018 Necessary truths derive from basic assertion and negation [Fichte, by Pinkard]
15216 Is conceptual necessity just conventional, or does it mirror something about nature? [Harré/Madden]
15235 There is a conceptual necessity when properties become a standard part of a nominal essence [Harré/Madden]
16422 The necessity of a proposition concerns reality, not our words or concepts [Stalnaker]
16423 Conceptual possibilities are metaphysical possibilities we can conceive of [Stalnaker]
13810 The source of de dicto necessity is not concepts, but the actual properties of the thing [Forbes,G]
12028 De re necessity is a form of conceptual necessity, just as de dicto necessity is [Forbes,G]
11169 Conceptual necessities rest on the nature of all concepts [Fine,K]
15087 Conceptual necessities are made true by all concepts [Hale]
12436 Concept-identities explain how we know necessities, not why they are necessary [Hale]
15033 Humeans says mathematics and logic are necessary because that is how our concept of necessity works [Sider]