Having established the possibilty of mathematics and natural science, Kant goes on to discuss metaphysics in the third part of the Prolegomena. Here we encounter many traditional metaphysical questions: Does the universe have a beginning in time? Is the universe bound by space? Can free will be reconciled with the natural laws of science? Is there one being in the universe (namely God) who necessarily exists? Here's our chance to puzzle along with Kant on these questions and to consider whether they're worth asking at all.
1 comment:
I agree with Mark in that I do not think that anything would be able to get me out of bed before 5 AM. The third section of Immanuel Kant’s Prolegomena has left me a little bit puzzled. After struggling to find the significance in obtaining the knowledge that synthetic a priori propositions are possible, Kant then finds it necessary and sufficient to leave out this major theory in the entire third section. I believe that the reasoning that Kant uses may be that he believes that this is simply an assumed idea now and that there is no reason to over kill his point. I am not sure how much water this theory will hold because he has no problem with over killing any other ideas in any other passages. I guess I will leave it up to the class to decide on this reasoning. Why he would leave out such a vital piece of his theory. As for the rest of the third section, the lead off question is “How is Metaphysics in General Possible?” He goes on to defend Mathematics and Sciences, but calls into question the theory of any sort of Metaphysics. I feel that he uses the theory of pure reason in an attempt to bring metaphysics back, but I am confused as to whether he has succeeded or failed. I believe Kant holds some brilliant ideas, but brings them out in ways that only he can truly grasp.
Post a Comment