Single Idea 5532

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / d. Secondary qualities]

Full Idea

Things like colors, taste etc. are correctly considered not as qualities of things but as mere alterations of our subject, which can even be different in different people.

Clarification

'The subject' is the experiencing person

Gist of Idea

Colours and tastes are not qualities of things, but alterations of the subject

Source

Immanuel Kant (Critique of Pure Reason [1781], B045/A29)

Book Reference

Kant,Immanuel: 'Critique of Pure Reason', ed/tr. Guyer,P /Wood,A W [CUO 1998], p.161


A Reaction

This acceptance of the category of 'secondary' qualities shows that Kant is not totally daft about reality. He 'considers them as' alterations in the subject, but how does he view primary qualities? Not, I think, as features of the noumenon.