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Single Idea 9345

[filed under theme 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 4. A Priori as Necessities ]

Full Idea

If a proposition is thought along with its necessity, it is an a priori judgement; if it is, moreover, also not derived from any proposition except one that in turn is valid as a necessary proposition, then it is absolutely a priori.

Gist of Idea

Propositions involving necessity are a priori, and pure a priori if they only derive from other necessities

Source

Immanuel Kant (Critique of Pure Reason [1781], B003)

Book Ref

Kant,Immanuel: 'Critique of Pure Reason', ed/tr. Guyer,P /Wood,A W [CUO 1998], p.137

A Reaction

The misunderstanding behind this is that we can obtain certainty in this way. I presume that consistency with empirical experience would increase our certainty of (say) maths or logic. There is no 'pure' a priori, delivering 'pure' necessity.

The 19 ideas with the same theme [a priori knowledge is an insight into necessary truths]:

2279 A triangle has a separate non-invented nature, shown by my ability to prove facts about it [Descartes]
2602 What experience could prove 'If a=c and b=c then a=b'? [Descartes]
5012 'Nothing comes from nothing' is an eternal truth found within the mind [Descartes]
9344 Mathematical analysis ends in primitive principles, which cannot be and need not be demonstrated [Leibniz]
9155 An a priori proof is independent of experience [Leibniz]
5404 Two plus two objects make four objects even if experience is impossible, so Kant is wrong [Russell on Kant]
9345 Propositions involving necessity are a priori, and pure a priori if they only derive from other necessities [Kant]
16893 The apriori is independent of its sources, and marked by necessity and generality [Kant, by Burge]
9347 A priori knowledge is indispensable for the possibility and certainty of experience [Kant]
9352 An a priori truth is one derived from general laws which do not require proof [Frege]
16889 A truth is a priori if it can be proved entirely from general unproven laws [Frege]
16894 An apriori truth is grounded in generality, which is universal quantification [Frege, by Burge]
5397 The rationalists were right, because we know logical principles without experience [Russell]
5198 We could verify 'a thing can't be in two places at once' by destroying one of the things [Ierubino on Ayer]
9354 Why should necessities only be knowable a priori? That Hesperus is Phosporus is known empirically [Devitt]
19565 How could the mind have a link to the necessary character of reality? [Devitt]
20472 Analysis of the a priori by necessity or analyticity addresses the proposition, not the justification [Casullo]
14712 A sentence is a priori if no possible way the world might actually be could make it false [Chalmers]
9369 'Snow is white or it isn't' is just true, not made true by stipulation [Boghossian]