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3 ideas
16916 | A priori synthetic knowledge is only of appearances, not of things in themselves [Kant] |
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. | |
From: Immanuel Kant (Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysic [1781], 283) | |
A reaction: This idea is basic to understanding Kant, and especially his claim that arithmetic is a priori synthetic. |
16915 | A priori intuitions can only concern the objects of our senses [Kant] |
Full Idea: Intuitions which are possible a priori can never concern any other things than objects of our senses. | |
From: Immanuel Kant (Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysic [1781], 283) | |
A reaction: Given the Kantian idea that what is known a priori will also be necessary, we might have had great hopes for big-time metaphysics, but this idea cuts it down to size. Personally, I don't think we are totally imprisoned in the phenomena. |
16914 | A priori intuition of objects is only possible by containing the form of my sensibility [Kant] |
Full Idea: The only way for my intuition to precede the reality of the object and take place as knowledge a priori is if it contains nothing else than the form of sensibility which in me as subject precedes all real impressions through which I'm affected by objects. | |
From: Immanuel Kant (Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysic [1781], 283) | |
A reaction: This may be the single most famous idea in Kant. I'm not really a Kantian, but this is a powerful idea, the culmination of Descartes' proposal to start philosophy by looking at ourselves. No subsequent thinking can ignore the idea. |