more from Immanuel Kant

Single Idea 20291

[catalogued under 19. Language / E. Analyticity / 1. Analytic Propositions]

Full Idea

In judgements, the relation of subject to predicate is possible in two ways. Either the predicate B belongs to the subject A as (covertly) contained in this concept A; or B lies entirely outside A. The first I call analytic, the second synthetic.

Gist of Idea

If the predicate is contained in the subject of a judgement, it is analytic; otherwise synthetic

Source

Immanuel Kant (Critique of Pure Reason [1781], B010/A6)

Book Reference

Kant,Immanuel: 'Critique of Pure Reason', ed/tr. Guyer,P /Wood,A W [CUO 1998], p.130


A Reaction

Rey says this is the first introduction of the analytic/synthetic disctinction. Modern philosophers seem to reject this definition, mainly because they are suspicious of the vague word 'contained'. Depends what a concept is.

Related Idea

Idea 20294 'Married' does not 'contain' its symmetry, nor 'bigger than' its transitivity [Rey]