more from Philip Kitcher

Single Idea 12389

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 9. A Priori from Concepts]

Full Idea

Knowledge is independent of experience if any experience which would enable us to acquire the concepts involved would enable us to have the knowledge.

Gist of Idea

Knowledge is a priori if the experience giving you the concepts thus gives you the knowledge

Source

Philip Kitcher (The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge [1984], 01.3)

Book Reference

Kitcher,Philip: 'The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge' [OUP 1984], p.22


A Reaction

This is the 'conceptualist' view of a priori knowledge, which Kitcher goes on to attack, preferring a 'constructivist' view. The formula here shows that we can't divorce experience entirely from a priori thought. I find conceptualism a congenial view.