Critique of Pure Reason
The Critique of Pure Reason is the major work by Immanuel Kant which was first published 1781, with a second edition in 1787. Its original German title is Kritik der reinen Vernunft. It is frequently also referred to as Kant?s ?first critique,? and is followed by the Critique of Practical Reason and the Critique of Judgment.
The Critique is an attempt to establish the capabilities and limits of ?pure reason.? In Kant?s terminology, pure reason has as its sole subject a priori concepts. Pure reason is therefore to be used to create synthetic a priori knowledge.
In Kant's view, a priori concepts provide the framework that allows us to make sense of a posteriori experience. Time and space, for example, are a priori notions that are necessary to make sense of our sense experience. There are also pure notions that are beyond the possibility of experience, such as God, free will, and immortality.
Key Concepts
Transcendental aesthetic
Transcendental aesthetic is ?the science of all the principles of sensibility a priori.? In transendental aesthetic, sensibility is isolated from all understanding, so that only empirical intuition is left. Next, all that belongs to sensation is taken away.
At this point, nothing remains but the a priori forms of perception, which provide structure to all perception. The two a priori principles of perception are time and space. No object can be represented without these principles, which exist in the mind rather than being properties of objects.
Terminology
Immanuel Kant tended to use words in a somewhat unusual way. Understanding his terminology is critical for understanding his work. Key terms used in the Critique of Pure Reason include:
Conception
Conception is ?the power of cognizing by means of these representations? which are received using the faculty of intuition. It is through conceptions that objects are thought.
Like intuition, conception can be pure or empirical. Pure conception contains ?only the form of the thought of an object.? Empirical conception requires the presence of an actual object. It is possible, in Kant?s view, to have conceptions of things that have no actual existence?such conceptions can only be pure, not empirical.
Contingent
Contingent refers to a statement that may or may not be true without a contradiction. For example, the statement ?Ralph Nader was not elected President in 2000? is true, but contingent. A possible world in which this statement is true can be imagined. Also see modal logic.
On the other hand, the statement ?2 plus 2 equals 4? is not contingent, since its denial, ?2 plus 2 does not equal 4? cannot be true in any possible world.
Intuition
Intuition is ?the faculty or power of receiving representations? (see Second Part, Transcendental Logic, Of Logic in General). Objects are given to use through intuition. Intuition can be pure or empirical.
Pure intuition contains the a priori forms under which objects of senses can be intuited?such as the space and time. Without these a priori forms, objects of senses cannot be perceived or thought of. Pure intuition is only possible a priori.
Empirical intuition includes sensation?which presupposes the actual presence of an object. It is only possible a posteriori.
See also
