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Single Idea 21410

[catalogued under 10. Modality / B. Possibility / 1. Possibility]

Full Idea

That the concept of a thing is possible (not self-contradictory) is not yet sufficient for assuming the possibility of the thing itself (the objective reality of the concept).

Gist of Idea

That a concept is not self-contradictory does not make what it represents possible

Source

Immanuel Kant (Metaphysics of Morals II:Doctrine of Virtue [1797], 382 Intro I)

A Reaction

I take this to be an inkling of Kripke's a posteriori scientific necessities, which place far greater restrictions on the possibilies of what we seem to have conceived, in addition to the mere need for consistency.

Book Reference

Kant,Immanuel: 'The Metaphysics of Morals', ed/tr. Gregor,Mary [CUP 1991], p.187

Related Ideas

Idea 19427 True ideas represent what is possible; false ideas represent contradictions [Leibniz]

Idea 5613 The analytic mark of possibility is that it does not generate a contradiction [Kant]