Single Idea 5547

[catalogued under 18. Thought / B. Mechanics of Thought / 2. Categories of Understanding]

Full Idea

The objective validity of the categories, as a priori concepts, rests on the fact that through them alone is experience possible.

Gist of Idea

The categories are objectively valid, because they make experience possible

Source

Immanuel Kant (Critique of Pure Reason [1781], B126/A93)

Book Reference

Kant,Immanuel: 'Critique of Pure Reason', ed/tr. Guyer,P /Wood,A W [CUO 1998], p.224


A Reaction

The human mind is clearly a sort of database, with a flexible structure, but the grounding of it has to be innate, and a priori additions are made at an early stage. I take the categories to be the basic folders of the database, but they may be cultural.