Phil assignment 5
Cooper2021
philosophychapter7.pptxPhilosophy Ppt 7
Rationalism and Empiricism
Come Together
Immanuel Kant
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The Rationalism Empiricism Impasse
Rationalism – knowledge through reason and innate Ideas (but how do you prove that?)
Empiricism- knowledge comes to blank slate mind by experience through the senses
(but the senses can deceive us.)
Radical Empiricism of David Hume, backdrop for Kant (can only know our perceptions)
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Immanuel Kant
1724-1804 Konigsberg, East Prussia
Mathematician
Reacted to Hume’s radical empiricism
Kant thought we could know reality with certainty- just didn’t know how.
Was able to combine Rationalism and Empiricism
The properties of the mind (innate/rationalism) construct what we call perception (knowledge through experience/empiricism)
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For More On Kant
Khan Academy Three Part Video
Kant on Metaphysics and Space
https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/wi-phi/wiphi-history/wiphi-kant/v/kant-on-metaphysical-knowledge
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Kantian Terms
a priori (prior to) knowledge before – innate or not needing empirical experience
a posteriori (posterior) knowledge after – from empirical experience
Analytic knowledge
Statements true in themselves – barking dogs bark
Synthetic knowledge
Synthetic statements – give info about reality – water freezes at 32’
If can accept some of both kinds of statements as true
Realize the innate qualities of mind make the experiential knowledge (perception) possible.
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Example
-All people “perceive” things in space and time
space and time are “universal” concepts
where did the universal concepts come from?
the mind universally constructs perception within space and time – (innate quality) but utilizes the senses as well
Kant has 12 categories like space and time
(Remember Chomsky and language?)
Need senses to learn language
Mind already has faculty to organize it
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Kant’s Two Worlds or Realms
Phenomenal- sense world
Tends toward determinism- laws of nature
Noumenal – realm that must exist but can’t prove
Our minds/thoughts can change Phenomenal world
Leaves the door open for free agency, ability of human beings to choose right or wrong action (crucial idea for Kantian Ethics)
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Impact of Kant
“Copernican Revolution” -Kant
-Hume- mind conforms to objects
-Kant – objects conform to mind
Impacted all philosophy after him
“Greatest Epistemologist of all Times”
Brings Rationalism and Empiricism together in a new way.
Saved Science
There is certainty of knowledge about phenomenal or natural world
Greatly challenged faith – the limit of reason
We cannot know for sure of anything outside the phenomenal world.
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Impact of Kant cont’d
If can’t know Noumenal world for sure
Can’t know if God exists for sure
For those who accept this- faith becomes “blind”
Faith knowledge- since can’t be known for sure, becomes invalid or no bearing on reality
People of faith – feet in two worlds
Contemporary Issues
Evolution vs. Intelligent Design debate
Kant believed there was a Noumenal world – God-
Couldn’t prove it but thought it must necessarily exist (left back door open) because morality is evident
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Impact of Philosophy
How does the philosophy of people like Kant affect us?
If accepted by large enough/ influential enough group, eventually becomes established “truth” that eventually influences what we are taught and think
More of Kant to come
For Ethics- The categorical imperative
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Terms/ Things to Know
A priori – knowledge before – rationalism
A posteriori – knowledge after- empiricism
Immanuel Kant was called “the greatest Epistemologist of all times” because he found a revolutionary was to argue for the combination of Rationalism and Empiricism.
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End
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