Kants Theory of Knowledge and Solipsism Essay - 3198 Words

Kants Theory of Knowledge and Solipsism In his Critique of Pure Reason Kant set out to establish a theory of human understanding. His approach was to synthesise the opposing views of empiricism and rationalism. He took the empirical principle that all our knowledge begins with experience [p.1] as a foundation of his philosophy, following Locke and Hume. In contrast to them, however, he also included the rationalist view that posits the existence of an apparatus of human understanding that is prior to experience, and is essential in order that we have experience at all. Thus, for Kant, the human mind does not begin simply as a tabula rasa, as supposed by Locke, but must necessarily have an innate structure in order that we may†¦show more content†¦Finally, I will outline some revisions that have been proposed that may save Kants system from solipsism. Empirical Reality Kant makes it clear that all knowledge begins with experience. Specifically, it begins with the phenomena that are presented in our immediate consciousness through our faculty of sensibility. Kant uses the word intuition to indicate our reception of an undetermined object in consciousness, in general (intuition being the accepted English translation of the German word anschauung which literally means looking at or view [2, p.681]). But having intuitions is not sufficient if we are to experience our world, for raw phenomena do not give us an understanding of what object is given in the phenomena. In order to understand, we need to have a faculty of mind that can organise and synthesise the raw data given in the phenomena, and thus determine the object given in the phenomena as a whole. The result of this determination is a conception of an object or event. Thus, for Kant, knowledge is only possible when we have an intuition accompanied by a conception. Neither have any meaning on thei r own. As Kant states, It is as necessary for the mind to make its conceptions sensuous (that is, to join to them the object of intuition), as to make its intuition intelligible (that is, to bring them under conceptions) . . . In no other way than from the united operation of both, can knowledge arise [p. 45]. Thus, when IShow MoreRelated An Analysis of Solipsism in Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason Essay2201 Words   |  9 PagesAnalysis of Solipsism in Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason My goal is to examine solipsism and discover how Immanuel Kants Transcendental Idealism could be subject to a charge of being solipsistic. Following this, I will briefly review the destructive impact this charge would have on certain of Kant’s positions. After the case for solipsism is made, I intend to describe a possible line of rebuttal from Kant’s perspective that could be made to the charge. The issue of solipsism is intriguingRead MoreBranches of Philosophy8343 Words   |  34 Pagesphilosophy The following branches are the main areas of study: †¢ Metaphysics investigates the nature of being and the world. Traditional branches are cosmology and ontology. †¢ Epistemology is concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge, and whether knowledge is possible. Among its central concerns has been the challenge posed by skepticism and the relationships between truth, belief, and justification. †¢ Ethics, or moral philosophy, is concerned with questions of how persons ought to