more from Immanuel Kant

Single Idea 5601

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 2. Phenomenalism]

Full Idea

That there could be inhabitants of the moon, even though no human being has ever perceived them, must of course be admitted; but this means only that in the possible progress of experience we could encounter them.

Gist of Idea

There are possible inhabitants of the moon, but they are just possible experiences

Source

Immanuel Kant (Critique of Pure Reason [1781], B521/A493)

Book Reference

Kant,Immanuel: 'Critique of Pure Reason', ed/tr. Guyer,P /Wood,A W [CUO 1998], p.512


A Reaction

This seems a fairly precise statement of phenomenalism (compare A.J. Ayer's Idea 5170). Kant calls himself a 'transcendental idealist', which seems something like a true idealist who acknowledges Humean 'natural beliefs' in reality.

Related Idea

Idea 5170 Material things are constructions from actual and possible occurrences of sense-contents [Ayer]