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Single Idea 20961

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 11. Denying the A Priori]

Full Idea

Habermas claims that what is regarded as a priori changes with history. This is because the linguistic structures on which judgements depend are themselves part of history, not prior to it.

Gist of Idea

What is considered a priori changes as language changes

Source

report of Jürgen Habermas (The Theory of Communicative Action [1981]) by Andrew Bowie - Introduction to German Philosophy Conc 'Habermas'

A Reaction

This is an interesting style of argument generally only found in continental philosophers, because they see the problem as historical rather than timeless. Compare Idea 20595, which sees analyticity historically.

Book Reference

Bowie,Andrew: 'Introduction to German Philosophy' [Polity 2003], p.258

Related Idea

Idea 20959 Concepts are only analytic once the predicate is absorbed into the subject [Schleiermacher]