more from Immanuel Kant

Single Idea 8734

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

Full Idea

Not every proposition has a subject-predicate form, and so by contemporary lights Kant's definition of analyticity [predicate contained in subject] is unnatural and stifling. What of 'If it is raining now, then either it is raining or it is snowing'?

Gist of Idea

Non-subject/predicate tautologies won't fit Kant's definition of analyticity

Source

comment on Immanuel Kant (Critique of Pure Reason [1781]) by Stewart Shapiro - Thinking About Mathematics 4.2

Book Reference

Shapiro,Stewart: 'Thinking About Mathematics' [OUP 2000], p.77


A Reaction

Only a logician would want to assert something so pointless. Kant gives a pretty good account of normal language tautologies. Still, you can't deny the point.