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Single Idea 16916

[from 'Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysic' by Immanuel Kant, in 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 5. A Priori Synthetic ]

Full Idea

Through intuition we can only know objects as they appear to us (to our senses), not as they may be in themselves; and this presupposition is absolutely necessary if synthetic propositions a priori are to be granted as possible.

Gist of Idea

A priori synthetic knowledge is only of appearances, not of things in themselves

Source

Immanuel Kant (Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysic [1781], 283)

Book Reference

Kant,Immanuel: 'Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysic', ed/tr. Lucas,Peter G. [Manchester UP 1971], p.38


A Reaction

This idea is basic to understanding Kant, and especially his claim that arithmetic is a priori synthetic.