Join guests John Callanan from King's College, London, and Andrew Ward from the University of York as they discuss Immanuel Kant's revolutionary ideas. They explore Kant's transition to critical philosophy and his response to David Hume's critique of causation. They also delve into Kant's views on mathematical judgments, metaphysics, and the distinction between phenomenal and noumenal worlds. The podcast concludes with a discussion on the relevance of Kant's philosophy in contemporary psychology and philosophy.
Kant's philosophy emphasizes the role of the mind in shaping our experience of the world and highlights the limits of theoretical reason in answering certain metaphysical questions.
Kant's Copernican revolution challenges the traditional view that human knowledge should conform to objects and introduces the idea that our cognition actively shapes our experience of the world.
Deep dives
Kant's Contribution to Philosophy
Kant's philosophy revolutionizes our understanding of knowledge and perception. He argues for a distinction between the world of appearances and the world as it is in itself. Kant believes that our experience of the world is shaped by our own minds, which contribute concepts and laws to organize the data we receive. He emphasizes the importance of synthetic a priori propositions, such as mathematical truths, which are necessary and universal. However, Kant also acknowledges that some metaphysical questions, like the existence of free will, are beyond the reach of theoretical reason. He proposes the idea of a transcendental idealism, where the mind plays a crucial role in shaping our experience of the world. Kant's philosophy highlights the limits of philosophy itself and the importance of other domains like religion and moral practice in addressing unanswered questions.
The Copernican Revolution in Philosophy
Kant introduces his own Copernican revolution in philosophy where he shifts our perspective on knowledge and understanding. This revolution challenges the traditional view that human knowledge should conform to objects. Instead, Kant argues that our cognition actively shapes our experience of the world. He claims that our concepts and laws play a significant role in organizing the data we receive and making sense of it. The mind contributes to the structure of the world as it appears to us, and this differs from the world as it is in itself. According to Kant, this revolution allows for a better understanding of synthetic a priori judgments and provides a framework for discussing metaphysical questions like causation and substance.
The Possibility of Synthetic A Priori Propositions
Kant explores the possibility and nature of synthetic a priori propositions, which are necessary and universal but cannot be proven through experience or the meaning of terms alone. He argues that synthetic a priori propositions underpin our knowledge of the world. Mathematical judgments, like 7 + 5 = 12, are examples of such propositions. Kant suggests that these truths are constructed by the mind by bringing concepts together. These judgments are possible because of the mind's contribution to organizing and interpreting the data we receive. Kant's analysis of synthetic a priori propositions challenges traditional notions of truth and offers a new understanding of objectivity.
Questions Beyond the Reach of Theoretical Reason
Kant acknowledges the limits of theoretical reason in addressing certain questions. He suggests that questions like the existence of free will and the nature of the world as it is in itself cannot be answered through theoretical reason alone. Kant proposes the distinction between the phenomenal world, which we can know through experience and causality, and the noumenal world, which is beyond our cognitive reach. While Kant argues for the existence of a noumenal realm, he acknowledges that we can only address it through faith or speculative reasoning. Kant's recognition of these unanswerable questions highlights the importance of embracing uncertainty and considering other domains in our quest for knowledge.
Join Grant Bartley from Philosophy Now and guests John Callanan from King’s College, London, and Andrew Ward from the University of York to talk about the most important idea you’ve never heard of, and some other persuasive arguments from revolutionary but unfortunately unknown-to-the-world philosopher Immanuel Kant. First broadcast on 1 June 2014 on Resonance FM.
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