Kant, The Copernican Revolution

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Outline

1. Introduction 2. The Problem of Metaphysics 3. The Critical Method 4. The Fundamental Problem of Reason Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 2

Introduction Kant’s Life and Work

Kant’s life - (1724-1804) Konisberg - Background - Lifestyle Kant’s works - The three

Critique

- less technical versions of K1 and K2 - On religion, politics and history 

A rigorously disciplined life – but not ascetical

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Introduction Kant’s philosophy

Philosophy - What can I know?

- What should I do? - What can I hope? What is man?

A new discipline of philosophy: The CRITIQUE Metaphysics and Epistemology: - Beyond Dogmatism vs Skepticism - Beyond Empiricism vs Rationalism 

Kant hopes to bring about a true revolution in philosophy

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Outline

1. Introduction 2. The Problem of Metaphysics 3. The Critical Method 4. The Fundamental Problem of Reason Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 5

The Problem of Metaphysics

Metaphysics as a natural tendency Dogmatic Metaphysics The failure of Dogmatic Metaphysics - The secured path of a science: consensus - The examples of Logic, Mathematics and Physics - Metaphysics as a battle ground What to do about it?

- Skepticism? - New method?



Kant’s main question: Is metaphysics possible as a science?

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Outline

1. Introduction 2. The Problem of Metaphysics 3. The Critical Method 4. The Fundamental Problem of Reason Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 7

The Critical Method Tribunal of Reason

The Critique or Critical Method: Self-examination of reason Kant: the tribunal of reason Effects: - Negative effect: use of reason forbidden beyond the realm of experience - Positive effect: leaves room for faith 

Critique = systematic assessment of the boundaries of the proper use of reason

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The Critical Method The Copernican Revolution

A common features in sciences: Character of the revolutions in math and physics: Reason Leads A similar revolution for metaphysics - Old ways of metaphysics: knowledge comes from our cognition conforming to external objects - New ways of metaphysics: knowledge comes from external objects conforming to our cognition 

Metaphysics as a science: determine the cognitive framework through which we apprehend the world.

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The Critical Method Objectivity

Old notion of objectivity - External objects exist - Our knowledge is objective if it correspond to them New notion of objectivity - Objectivity is constructed, i.e. is the result of how our cognitive framework informs external objects 

Metaphysics as a science: determine the conditions of objectivity

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The Critical Method Conclusion

Problem: How can metaphysics be a science? Method 1: Critique -- systematic investigation of the legitimate use of reason – Against speculative metaphysics Method 2: Copernican Revolution – determination how the external objects conform to our cognitive framework. 

Metaphysics can be a science in determining the conditions of possibility of scientific knowledge.

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Outline

1. Introduction 2. The Problem of Metaphysics 3. The Critical Method 4. The Fundamental Problem of Reason Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 12

From Hume to Kant

A Priori vs A posteriori: Ways of knowing – derived from experience or not Analytic vs Synthetic Types of truths: tautological or not Hume and the empiricists: A priori = Analytic 

Kant wants to claim that this is not the case

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Kant and A priori Synthetic Judgments

Starting Point: Scientific knowledge exist Problem: Scientific knowledge is made neither of analytic a priori judgments, nor of synthetic a priori judgments Conclusion: There must another kind of judgment Kant’s claim: Synthetic a priori judgments are constitutive of scientific knowledge Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 14

The Fundamental Problem of Reason

Our Problem: How is scientific knowledge possible? Scientific Knowledge = synthetic a priori judgments Our Problem becomes: How are synthetic a priori judgments possible?

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