No More Learning

? ? t if it
it is
I is
e
; a
oi isis
I
I
is, I
? Xlii PBEFACB TO THE 8ECOND EDITIOX.
u not popular, but scholastic in its charac'cr, and which alone can hope for a lasting existence or possess au abiding value. To these deserving men, who so happily combine profundity of view with a talent for lucid exposition -- a talent which I myself am not conscious of possessing --I leave the task of removing any obscurity which may still adhere to the statement of my doctrines. For, in this case, the danger is not that of being refuted, but of being misunderstood. For my own part, I must henceforward abstain from controversy, although I shall carefully attend to all suggestions, whether from friends or adversaries, which may be of use in the future elaboration of the system of this Propedeutic. As, during these labours, I have advanced pretty far in years -- this month
I reach my sixty-fourth year -- it will be necessary for me to economize time, if I am to carry out my plan of elaborating the Metaphysics of Nature as well as of Morals, in confirmation
)f the correctness of the principles established in this Critique af Pure Reason, both Speculative and Practical ; and I must, therefore, leave the task of clearing up the obscurities of the present work -- inevitable, perhaps, at the outset -- as well as the defence of the whole, to those deserving men who have made my system their own. A philosophical system cannot come forward armed at all points like a mathematical treatise, and hence it may be quite possible to take objection to parti cular passages, while the organic structure of the system, con sidered as a unity, has no danger to apprehend. But few possess the ability, and still fewer the inclination, to take a comprehensive view of a new system. By confining the view to particular passages, taking these out of their connection and comparing them with one another, it is easy to pick out apparent contradictions, especially in a work written with any freedom of style. These contradictions place the work in an unfavourable light in the eyes of those who rely on the judg ment of others, but are easily reconciled by those who have mastered the idea of the whole. If a theory possesses stabi lity in itself, the action and reaction which seemed at first to threaten its existence, serve only, in the course of time, to smooth down any s\ erficial roughness or inequality, and -- if men of insight, im irtiality, and truly popular gifts, turn their attention to it -- to secure to short time, the requj-
<<ite elegance also.
Iv nig9bf. ro, April 1787.
? ? ? it,
in a
? INTRODUCTION.
I. Or TEE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PURE AND SMITHICI L KNOWLEDGE.
That all our knowledge begins with experience there can be no doubt. For how is it possible that the faculty of cog nition should be awakened into exercise otherwise than by means of objects which affect our senses, and partly of them<< selves produce representations, partly rouse our powers ol understanding into activity, to compare, to connect, or to se parate these, and so to convert the raw material of our sensuous impressions into a knowledge of objects, which is called ex perience? In respect of time, therefore, no knowledge cf ours is antecedent to experience, but begins with it.
But, though nll our knowledge begins with experience, it by no means follows, that all arises out of experience. For,
on the contrary, it is quite possible that our empirical know ledge is a compound of that which we receive through im pressions, and that which the faculty of cognition supplies from itself (sensuous impressions giving merely the occasion), an addition which we cannot distinguish from the original element given by sense, till long practice has made us at tentive to, and skilful in separating it. It is, therefore, a question which requires close investigation, and is not to be answered at first sight, -- whether there exists a knowledge altogether independent of experience, and even of all sensuous impressions ? Knowledge of this kind is called a priori, in contradistinction to empirical knowledge, which has its sources a posteriori, that in experience.
? But the expression, " priori," not as yet definite
enough, adequately to indicate the whole meaning of. tht question above started. For, in speaking cf knowledge wukh
? ? B
it
is
is,
? s INTRODUCTION.
has its sources In experience, we are wont to say, that this or
that may be known ii priori, because we do not derive thia
knowledge immediately from experience, but from a general rule, which, however, we have itself borrowed from experi ence. Thus, if a man undermined his house, we say, " he might know h priori that it would have fallen ;" that he needed not to have waited for the experience that did actu ally fall. But still, priori, he could not know even this much. For, that bodies are heavy, and, consequently, that they fall when their supports are taken away, must have been known to him previously, by means of experience.
? By the term " knowledge priori," therefore, we stall in the sequel understand, not such as independent of this or that kind of experience, but such as absolutely so of all ex perience. Opposed to this empirical knowledge, or that which possible only a posteriori, that is, through experi ence. Knowledge priori either pure or impure. Pure knowledge priori that with which no empirical element mixed up. For example, the proposition, " Every change has cause," proposition priori, but impure, because change conception which can only he derived from expe rience.
II. The nuMAX intellect, even in an unfhilosofhical STATE, IS IN POSSESSION OF CERTAIN COGNITIONS PRIORI.
The question now as to criterion, by which we may
securely distinguish pure from an empirical cognition. Ex perience no doubt teaches us that this or that object con stituted in such and such manner, but not that could not possibly exist otherwise. Now, in the first place, we have
proposition which contains the idea of necessity in its very conception, judgment priori moreover, not derived from any other proposition, unless from one equally involving the idea of necessity, absolutely priori. Se condly, an empirical judgment never exhibits strict and abso lute, but only assumed and comparative universality (by in duction) therefore, the most we can say --so far as we have hitherto observed, there
rule. If, on the other hand, and absolute universality, that
no exception to this or that judgment carries with strict
admits of no possible excep
? ? is,is it is
a
it
it is
if it
is
it
is,
is,
<}
; if,
is is
a
; is a
a
is
it is a
a
is a alia isisa
a
a is
h
A is
is a
? A PRIORI COGNITIONS. 3
tion, it is not derived from experience, but is valid absolutely a priori.
Empirical universality is, therefore, only an arbitrary ex tension of validity, from that which may be predicated of a proposition valid in most cases, to that which is asserted of a proposition which holds good in all ; as, for example, in the affirmation, " all bodies are heavy. '
strict universality characterizes a judgment, it necessarily indicates another peculiar source of knowledge, namely, a faculty of cognition <i priori. Necessity and strict univer sality, therefore, are infallible tests for distinguishing pure from empirical knowledge, and are inseparably connected with each other. But as in the use of these criteria the empirical limitation is sometimes more easily detected than the contingency of the judgment, or the unlimited universality which we attach to a judgment is often a more convincing proof than its necessity, it may be advisable to use the criteria separately, each being by itself infallible.
? Now, that in the sphere of human cognition, we have judgments which are necessary, and in the strictest sense universal, consequently pure ii priori, it will be an easy matter to shew. If we desire an example from the sciences,
we need only take any proposition in mathematics. If
we cast our eyes upon the commonest operations of the un
derstanding, the proposition, " every change must have a cause," will amply serve our purpose. In the latter case, indeed, the conception of a cause so plainly involves the con ception of a necessity of connexion with an effect, and of a strict universality of the law, that the very notion of a cause would entirely disappear, were we to derive like Hume, from frequent association of what happens with that which precedes, and the habit thence originating of connecting re presentations --the necessity inherent in the judgment being therefore merely subjective. Besides, without seeking for such examples of principles existing priori in cognition, we might easily shew that such principles are the indispen sable basis of the possibility of experience itself, and con sequently prove their existence priori. For whence could our experience itself acquire certainty, all the rules on which
depends were themselves empirical, and consequently for tuitous No one, therefore, can admit the validity of the use
b2
? ? it ?
a
if
i
it,
a'
? 4 INTRODUCTION
of sucb rules as first principles. But, for the present, we may content ourselves with having established the fact, that we do possess and exercise a faculty of pure a priori cog nition ; and, secondly, with having pointed out the proper teats of such cognition, namely, universality and necessity.
Not only in judgments, however, hut even in conceptions, is an A priori origin manifest. For example, if we take away by degrees from our conceptions of a body all that can be referred to mere sensuous experience--colour, hardness or eoftness, weight, even impenetrability -- the body will then vanish ; but the space which it occupied still remains, and this it is utterly impossible to annihilate in thought. Again, if we take away, in like manner, from our empirical conception
of any object, corporeal or incorporeal, all properties which mere experience has taught us to connect with still we cannot think away those through which we cogitate as substance, or adhering to substance, although our conception of substance more determined than that of an object. Compelled, therefore, by that necessity with which the con ception of substance forces itself upon us, we must confess that has its seat in our faculty of cognition priori.
III. PniLOSOPHY STANDS IN NEED OF A SCIENCE WHICH SHALL DETERMINE THE POSSIBILITY, PRINCIPLES, AND EXTENT OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE PRIORI.
Of far more importance than all that has been above said, the consideration that certain of our cognitions rise com
pletely above the sphere of all possible experience, and by means of conceptions, to which there exists in the whole ex tent of experience no corresponding object, seem to extend the range of our jndgments beyond its bounds. And just in this transcendental or supersensible sphere, where experience affords us neither instruction nor guidance, lie die investi gations of Reason, which, on account of their importance, we consider far preferable to, and as having far more elevated aim than, all that the understanding can achieve within the sphere of sensuous phenomena. So high value do we set upon these investigations, that even at the risk of error, we persist in following them out, and permit neither doubt nor disregard nor indifference to restrain us from the pur suit. These unavoidable problems of mere pure reason are
? ? ? a a
a
is
A
it
is
it, it
? DOGMATTSW. s
God, Freedom (of will) and Immortality. The science which, with all its preliminaries, has for its especial object the solution of these problems is named metaphysics, --a science which is at the very outset dogmatical, that con fidently takes upon itself the execution of this task without
any previous investigation of the ability or inability of reason for such an undertaking.
Now the safe ground of experience being thus abandoned, seems nevertheless natural thst we should hesitate to erect building with the cognitions we possess, without knowing whence they come, and on the strength of principles, the origin of whirh undiscovered. Instead of thus trying to build without foundation, rather to be expected that
we should long ago have put the question, how the under
can arrive at these priori cognitions, and what the extent, validity, and worth which they may possess We say, this natural enough, meaning by the word natural, that which consistent with just and reasonable way of think ing but we understand by the term, that which usually happens, nothing indeed could be mere natural and more
some evident contradiction, we hurry on undoubtingly in our course. This, however, may be avoided, we are suffi ciently cautious in the construction of our fictions, which are not the less fictions on that account.
Mathematical science affords us brilliant example, how far, independently of all experience, we may carry our priori knowledge. true that the mathematician occupies himself with objects and cognitions only in so far as they can be represented by means of intuition. But this circumstance
easily overlooked, because the said intuition can itself be given priori, and therefore hardly to be distinguished from mere pure conception. Deceived such proof of
? standing
than that this investigation should be left
comprehensible
long unattempted. For one part of our pure knowledge, the science of mathematics, has been long firmly estab lished, and thus leads us to form flattering expectations with regard to others, though these may be of quite different nature. Besides, when we get beyond the bounds of ex perience, we are of course safe from opposition in that quarter and the charm of widening the range of our know ledge so great, that unless we are brought to stand-still
? ? a ii
is ;
is
by a
if
a
a
is, ? it
is
a
it is
is
by
a it
It is
a
a
is
a
;
if
is
a
is
? 6
IKTBODUCTIOIT.
the power of reason, we can perceive no limits to the ex tension of our knowledge. The light dove cleaving in free flight the thin air, whose resistance it feels, might imagine that her movements would he far more free and rapid in air less space. Just in the same way did Plato, abandoning the world of sense because of the narrow limits it sets to the understanding, venture upon the wings of ideas beyond into the void space of pure intellect. He did not reflect that he made no real progress by all his efforts for he met with no resistance which might serve him for support, as were, whereon to rest, and on which he might apply his powers, in order to let the intellect acquire momentum for its progress.
indeed, the common fate of human reason in speculation, to finish the imposing edifice of thought as rapidly as possible, and then for the first time to begin to examine whether the foundation solid one or no. Arrived at this point, all sorts of excuses are sought after, in order to console us for its want of stability, or rather indeed, to enable us to dispense
altogether with so late and dangerous an investigation. But what frees us during the process of building from all appre hension or suspicion, and flatters us into the belief of its solidity, this. great part, perhaps the greatest part, of the business of our reason consists in the analyxation of the
which we already possess of objects. By this means we gain multitude of cognitions, which although really nothing more than elucidations or explanations of that which (though in confused manner) was already thought in our conceptions, are, at least in respect of their form, prized as new introspections whilst, so far as regards their matter or content, we have really made no addition to our con ceptions, but only disinvolved them. But as this process does furnish r? al priori knowledge,* which has sure progress and useful results, reason, deceived this, slips in, without being itself aware of assertions of quite different kind; in which, to given conceptions adds others, priori in deed, but entirely foreign to them, without our knowing how
arrives at these, and, indeed, without such question ever suggesting itself. shall therefore at once proceed to examine the difference between these two modes of knowledge.
Not ivnthetical. -- Tr.
? conceptions
? ? I *
a a
A
it
It is,
it,
it
a by
a
;
aa d
a
is a
;
is
it
it,
? AWALTTTOAL AND HINTHBTIOAL JTOOKEST6. 7
IV. Or TnE DTFFEHENCE BETWEEN ANALYTICAL AND 6TNTUETICAL JUDGMENTS.
In all judgments wherein the relation of a subject to the pre
dicate is cogitated, (I mention affirmative judgments only
here ; the application to negative will be very easy,) this rela
tion is possible in two different ways. Either the predicate
B belongs to the subject A, as somewhat which is contained
(though covertly) in the conception A ; or the predicate B
lies completely out of the conception A, although it stands in connexion with it. In the first instance, I term the judgment
analytical, in the second, synthetical. Analytical judgments
are therefore those in which the connection of the predicate with the subject is cogitated through identity ; those in which this connexion is cogitated without identity, are called synthetical judgments. The former may be called explicative, the latter augmentative* judgments ; because the former add in the predicate nothing to the conception of the subject, but only analyse it into its constituent conceptions, which were thought already in the subject, although in a con fused manner ; the latter add to our conceptions of the subject a predicate which was not contained in and which no analysis could ever have discovered therein. For example, when say, "all bodies are extended," this an analytical judgment. For need not go beyond the conception of body
order to find extension connected with but merely analyse the conception, that is, become conscious of the manifold properties which think in that conception, in order to discover this predicate in therefore an ana lytical judgment. On the other hand, when say, " all bodies are heavy," the predicate something totally different from that which think in the mere conception of
By the addition of such predicate therefore, becomes synthetical judgment.
Judgments of experience, as such, are always synthetical. For would be absurd to think of grounding an analytical
judgment on experience, because in forming such judg ment, need not go out of the sphere of my conceptions,
That is, judgments which reahy add to, and do not merely analy
or explain the conceptions which make up the torn of our knowledge. 7V.
? (affirmative)
body.
? ? *
it
in
I
I
aa a
I
I
a
I
is
it :
it is
is itI it,
it,
? 8 tNTBODUCTIOU'.
and therefore recourse"to the testimony of experience is quite unnecessary. That bodies are extended" is not an em pirical judgment, but a proposition which stands firm ft priori. For before addressing myself to experience, I already have in my conception all the requisite conditions for the judg ment, and I have only to extract the predicate from the concep tion, according to the principle of contradiction, and thereby at the same time become conscious of the necessity of the judgment, a necessity which I could never learn from ex
On the other hand, though at first I do not at all
perience.
include the predicate of weight in my conception of body in general, that, conception still indicates an object of ex
? perience, a part of the totality of experience, to which I can still add other parts ; and this I do when I recognize by ob servation that bodies are heavy. I can cognize beforehand by analysis the conception of body through the character istics of extension, impenetrability, shape, &c, all which are cogitated in this conception. But now I extend my know ledge, and looking back on experience from which I had derived this conception of body, I find weight at all times connected with the above chsracteristics, and therefore I synthetically add to my conceptions this as a predicate, and say, " all bodies are heavy. " Thus it is experience upon which rests the possibility of the synthesis of the predicate of weight with the conception of body, because both con ceptions, although the one is not contained in the other, still belong to one another (only contingently, however), as parts of a whole, namely, of experience, which is itself a synthesis of intuitions.
But to synthetical judgments a priori, such aid is entirely wanting. If I go out of and beyond the conception A, in order to recognize another B as connected with what foundation have to rest on, whereby to render the synthesis possible have here no longer the advantage of looking out in the sphere of experience for what want. Let us
take, for example, the proposition, "everything that happens has cause. " In the conception of something that happens, indeed think an existence which certnin time antecedes,
and from this can derive analytical judgments. But the conception of cause lies quite out of the above " conception, tad indicates something entirely different from that which
? ? I
a
I aI
I
a
I
?
it,
? SYNTHETICAL JUDGMENTS A PRIOBI.
9
happens," and is consequently not contained in that con ception. How then am I able to assert concerning the general conception -- "that which happens " -- something entirely dif ferent from that conception, and to recognize the conception of cause although not contained in yet as belonging to and even necessarily? what here the unknown = upon which the understanding rests when believes has found, out of the conception foreign predicate which nevertheless considers to be connected with cannot be experience, because the principle adduced annexes the two represent ations, cause and effect, to the representation existence, not only with universality, which experience cannot give, but also with the expression of necessity, therefore completely prion and from pure conceptions. Upon such synthetical, that augmentative propositions, depends the whole aim of our specu lative knowledge priori for although analytical
? judgments are indeed highly important and necessary, they are so, only
to arrive at that clearness of conceptions which requisite for sure and extended synthesis, and this alone real acquisition.
V. In all theobetical sciences of season, synthetical JUDGMENTS PRIORI ABB CONTAINED AS PBISCIPLES.
Matiiematicax judgments are always synthetical. Hitherto this fact, though incontestibly true and very important in its consequences, seems to have escaped the analysts of the human mind, nay, to be in complete opposition to all their conj'c tures. For as was found that mathematical conclusions all
proceed according to the principle of contradiction (whi<. h the nature of every apodeictic certainty requires), people became persuaded that the fundamental principles of the science also were recognised and admitted in the same way. But the notion fallacious for although synthetical pro position can certainly be discerned by means of the principle of contradiction, this possible only when another syntheti cal proposition precedes, from which the latter deduced, but never of itself.
Before all, be observed, that proper mathematical propo
sitions are always judgments priori, and not empirical, be cause they carry nlong with them the conception of necessity,
? ? d
it ?
it
is it A
A da
is
;
;
is
a is
It B,
it
I.
a
is is
& is
a
it
it,
it
it,
X,
? 10 nfTRODUCTion.
which cannot be given by experience. If this be demurred to, it matters not ; I will then limit my assertion to pure ma thematics, the very conception of which implies, that it con sists of knowledge altogether non-empirical and a priori.
We might, indeed, at first suppose that the proposition 7 + 5=12, is a merely analytical proposition, following (ac cording to the principle of contradiction), from the concep tion of a sum of seven and five. But if we regard it more narrowly, we find that our conception of the sum of seven and five contains nothing more than the uniting of both sums into one, whereby it cannot at all be cogitated what this single number is which embraces both. The conception of twelve is by no means obtained by merely cogitating the union of seven and five ; and we may analyze our conception of such a possible sum as long as we will, still we shall never dis cover in it the notion of twelve. We must go beyond these conceptions, and have recourse to an intuition which corresponds to one of the two,--our five fingers, for ex ample, or like Segner in his "Arithmetic," five points, and so by degrees, add the units contained in the five given in the intuition, to the conception of seven. For I first take the number 7, and, for the conception of 5 calling in the aid of the fingers of my hand as objects of intuition, I add the units, which I before took together to make up the number
5, gradually now by means of the material image my hand, to the number 7, and by this process, I at length see the number 12 arise. That 7 should be added to 5, I have ceriainly cogitated in my conception of a sum=7-r5, but not that this sum was equal to 12. Arithmetical propositions are therefore always synthetical, of which we may become more clearly convinced by trying large numbers. For it wih thus become quite evident, that turn and twist our conceptions as we may, it is impossible, without having recourse to intui tion, to arrive at the sum total or product by means of the mere analysis of our conceptions. Just as little is any princi ple of pure geometry analytical. " A straight line between
two points is the shortest," is a synthetical proposition. For my conception of straight, contains no notion of quantity, but is merely qualitative. The conception of the shortest is therefore wholly an addition, and by no analysis can it be ex tracted from our conception of a straight line. Intuition
? ? ? ? SYNTHETICAL JUDGMENTS A PRIORI.
11
mast therefore here lend its aid, by means of which and thai only, our synthesis is possible.
Some few principles preposited by geometricians are, in deed, really analytical, and depend on the principle of con tradiction. They serve, however, like identical propositions, as links in the chain of method, not as principles, -- for ex ample, a=a, the whole is equal to itself, or (a+6) 7 a, the whole is greater than its part. And yet even these principles themselves, though they derive their validity from pure conceptions, are only admitted in mathematics because they can be presented in intuition.
What causes us here
to believe that the predicate of such apodeictic judgments is already contained in our conception, and that
the judgment is therefore analytical, is merely the equivocal nature of the expression. We must join in thought a certain predicate to a given conception, and this necessity cleaves already to the conception. But the question not what we must join in thought to the given conception, but what we really think therein, though only obscurely, and then becomes manifest, that the predicate pertains to these conceptions, ne cessarily indeed, yet not as thought in the conception itself, out by virtue of an intuition, which must be added to the con ception.
2. The science of Natural Philosophy (Physics) contains in itself synthetical judgments priori, as principles. shall adduce two propositions. For instance, the proposition, " in all changes of the material world, the quantity of matter remains unchanged or, that, " in all communication of motion, action and re-action must always be equal. " In both of these, not only the necessity, and therefore their origin priori clear, but also that they are synthetical propo sitions. For in the conception of matter, do not cogitate
its permanency, but merely its presence in space, which fills. therefore really go out of and beyond the conception of matter, in order to think on to something priori, which did not think in it. The proposition therefore not analyti cal, but synthetical, and nevertheless conceived priori and so with regard to th<< other propositions of the pure part of natural philosophy.
3. As to Metaphysics, even we look upon merely as an attempted science, yet, from the nature of human reason, an
? commonly
? ? if
it is
is
h
it ft
is,
it
is 1
<k
ft
I
I
;
I it
;"
it
? 12 nrrRODUCTion.
indispensable one, we find that it must contain synthetical propositions & priori. It is not merely the duty of meta physics to dissect, and thereby analytically to illustrate the conceptions which we form a priori of things ; but we seek tc widen the range of our & priori knowledge. For this purpose, we must avail ourselves of such principles as add something tc the original conception --something not identical with, nor contained in and by means of synthetical judgments
priori, leave far behind us the limits of experience for example, in the proposition, " the world must have begin ning," and such like. Thus metaphysics, according to the proper aim of the science, consists merely of synthetical pro positions priori.
VI. The umrEB8AL problem of puee reasox.
? It extremely advantageous to be able to bring number of investigations under the formula of single problem. For in this manner, we not only facilitate our own labour, inas much as we define clearly to ourselves, but also render more easy for others to decide whether we have done justice to our undertaking. The proper problem of pure reason, then,
contained in the question, " How are synthetical judgments priori possible ? "
That metaphysical science has hitherto remained so va cillating state of uncertainty and contradiction, only to be attributed to the fact, that this great problem, and perhaps even the difference between analytical and synthetical judg ments, did not sooner suggest itself to philosophers. Upon the solution of this problem, or upon sufficient proof of the im possibility of synthetical knowledge priori, depends the existence or downfall of the science of metaphysics. Among
David Hume came the nearest of all to this problem yet never acquired in his mind sufficient preci sion, nor did he regard the question in its universality. On the contrary, he stopped short at the synthetical proposition ol the connection of an effect with its cause. , (principium causal- itatis), insisting that such proposition priori was impos sible. According to his conclusions, then, all that we term
philosophers,
science fancied insight of reason
metaphysical
from experience, and to
? ? n
is wlii a
&
;a it
is
A
&
a
is
in
a
a
;
& is
h
it
it
it,
? THE GHA1TD PBOBLEM OF PtfBE EEABOif. 13
of necessity. Against this assertion, destructive to all pure philosophy, he would have been guarded, had he had our problem before his eyes in its universality. For he would then have perceived that, according to his own argument, there likewise could not be any pure mathematical science, which assuredly cannot exist without synthetical propositions d priori, -- an absurdity from which his good understanding must have saved him.
In the solution of the above problem is at the same time comprehended the possibility of the use of pure reason in the foundation and construction of all sciences which contain theoretical knowledge & priori of objects, that is to say, the answer to the following questions :
? How is pure mathematical science possible ?
How is pure natural science possible ?
Respecting these sciences, as they do certainly exist, it may
with propriety be asked, how they are possible ? --for that they must be possible, is shewn by the fact of their really existing. * But as to metaphysics, the miserable progress it has hitherto made, and the fact that of no one system yet brought forward, as far as regards its true aim, can it be said that this science really exists, leaves any one at liberty to doubt with reason the very possibility of its existence.
Yet, in a certain sense,' this kind of knowledge must un questionably be looked upon as given; in other words, meta physics must be considered as really existing, if not as a science, nevertheless as a natural disposition of the human mind (metaphyska naturalis). For human reason, without any instigations imputable to the mere vanity of great know ledge, unceasingly progresses, urged on by its own feeling of need, towards such questions as cannot be answered by any em pirical application of reason, or principles derived therefrom ; and so there has ever really existed in every man some system
* As to the existence of pure natural science, or physics, perhaps many may still express doubts. But we have only to look at the different pro positions which are commonly treated of at the commencement of proper (empirical) physical science --those, for example, relating to the perma nence of the same quautity of matter, the vit inertia, the equality of action and reaction. &c. --to be soou convinced that ttiey form e science of pure physics {phyrica pur a, or rationalis), which well deserves to ha separately exposed as a special science, in its whole extent, whether thai be (rr<<n' or confined.
? ? ? u INTBODtJCTIOlT.
of metaphysics. It will always exist, so soon as reason awake* to the exercise of its power of speculation. And now the question arises -- How is metaphysics, as a natural disposition, possible ? In other words, how, from the nature of universal human reason, do those questions arise which pure reason proposes to itself, and which it is impelled by its own feeling
af need to answer as well as it can ?
But as in all the attempts hitherto made to answer the ques
tions which reason is prompted by its very nature to propose to itself, for example, whether the world had a beginning, or has existed from eternity, it has always met with unavoidable contradictions, we must not rest satisfied with the mere natu ral disposition of the mind to metaphysics, that with the existence of the faculty of pure reason, whence, indeed, some sort of metaphysical system always arises; but must be possible to arrive at certainty in regard to the question whether we know or do not know the things of which metaphysics treats. We must be able to arrive at decision on the subjects of its questions, or on the ability or inability of reason to form'
any judgment respecting them and therefore either to extend with confidence the bounds of our pure reason, or to set strictly defined and safe limits to its action. This last ques tion, which arises out of the above universal problem, would properly run thus How metaphysics possible as science
Thus, the critique of reason leads at last, naturally and necessarily, to science and, on the other hand, the dogma tical use of reason without criticism leads to groundless asser tions, against which others equally specious can always be set, thus ending unavoidably in scepticism.
Besides, this science cannot be of great and formidable prolixity, because has not to do with objects of reason, the variety of which inexhaustible, but merely with reason her self and her problems problems whieh arise out of her own bosom, and are not proposed to her the nature of outward 'things, but her own nature. And when once reason has previously become able completely to understand her own
power in regard to objects which she meets with in experience, will be easy to determine securely the extent and limits of
her attempted application to objects beyond the confines
? experience. mini, therefore, We may anJ
regard
the hitherto attempts
? ? of
?
it
by
by
;
;
is
is it
:
a
it is,
;
a
? idea, or a critique of ptrai iiuos. 15
made; to establish metaphysical science dogmatically as non existent. For what of analysis, that mere dissection of
contained in one or other, not the aim of, but only preparation for metaphysics proper, which has for its object the extension, by means of synthesis, of our a priori knowledge. And for this purpose, mere analysis of course useless, because only shews what contained in these conceptions, but not how we arrive, a priori, at them; and this her duty to shew, in order to be able afterwards to determine their valid use in regard to all objects of expe rience, to all knowledge general. But little self-denial, indeed, needed to give up these pretensions, seeing the undeniable, and in the dogmatic mode of procedure, in evitable contradictions of Reason with herself, have long since ruined the reputation of every system of metaphysics that has appeared up to this time. will require more firmness to remain undeterred by difficulty from within, and opposition from without, from endeavouring, method quite opposed to all those hitherto followed, to further the growth and fruitfulness of science indispensable to human reason -- science from which every branch has borne may be cut away, but whose roots remain indestructible.
VII. Idea and division of a pabticitlab science, ttnden THE NAME OF A CRITIQUE OF PuBE REASON.
From all that has been said, there results the idea of par ticular science, which may be called the Critique of Pvre Reason. For reason the faculty which furnishes us with the principles of knowledge priori. Hence, pure reason
the faculty which contains the principles of cognizing any thing absolutely priori. An Organon of pure reason would be a compendium of those principles according to which alone all pure cognitions priori can be obtained. The completely extended application of such an organon would afford us system of pure reason. As this, however, de manding great deal, and yet doubtful whether any extension of our knowledge be here possible, or so, in what cases we can regard science of the mere criticism of pure reason, its sources and limits, as the propcedeutie to ? yBtem of pure reason. Such science must not be called Doctrine, but only Criticie of pure Reason and iu use,
conceptions,
? ? ? a
a
&
is
a
it is
A
d
;
aa
a
it
a
is
is
it
; is
aa
if
is
by a
a
a in
it
It
is, is
is
is
is
? l<< INTRODUCTION
in regard to speculation, would be only negative, hot to en large the bounds of, but to purify our reason, and to shield it against error, --which alone is no little gain. I apply the term transcendental to all knowledge which is not so much occu pied with objects as with the mode of our cognition of these objects, so far as this mode of cognition is possible a priori. A system of such conceptions would be called Transcendental Philosophy. But this, again, is still beyond the bounds of our present essay. For as such a science must contain a complete exposition not only of our synthetical a priori, but of our analytical & priori knowledge, it is of too wide a range for our present purpose, because we do not require to carry our analysis any farther than is necessary to understand, in their full extent, the principles of synthesis a priori, with which alone we have to do. This investigation, which we cannot properly call a doctrine, but only a transcendental critique, because it aims not at the enlargement, but at the correction and guidance of our knowledge, and is to serve as a touchstone of the worth or worthlessness of all know ledge a priori, is the sole object of our present essay. Such a critique is consequently, as far as possible, a preparation for an organon ; and if this new organon should be found to fail, at least for a canon of pure reason, according to which the complete system of the philosophy of pure reason, whether it extend or limit the bounds of that reason, might one day be set forth both analytically and synthetically. For that this is possible, nay, that such a system is not of so great extent as to preclude the hope of its ever being com
is evident. For we have not here to do with the nature of outward objects, which is infinite, but solely with the mind, which judges of the nature of objects, and, again, with the mind only in respect of its cognition & priori. And the object of our investigations, as it is not to be sought without, but altogether within ourselves, cannot remain con cealed, and in all probability is limited enough to be com pletely surveyed and fairly estimated, according to its worth or worthlessness. Still less let the reader here expect a critique of books and systems of pure reason ; our present object is exclusively a critique of the faculty of pure reason itself. Only when we make this critique our foundation, do we possess a pure touchstone for estimating the philosophical
? pleted,
? ? ? IDEA OF A UKITMiDl
OF PUKE HEA. SOIT. 17
value of ancient and modern writings on this subject; and without this criterion, the incompetent historian or judge decides upon and corrects the groundless assertions of others with his own, which have themselves just as little foundation.
Transcendental philosophy is the idea of a science, for
which the Critique of Pure Reason must sketch the whole
plan architectonically, that from principles, with full
guarantee for the validity and stability of all the parts which
enter into the building. the system of all the principles
of pure reason. If this Critique itself does not assume the
title of transcendental philosophy, only because, to be
complete system, ought to contain full analysis of all
human knowledge a priori. Our critique must, indeed, lay
before us complete enumeration of all the radical concep
tions which constitute the said pure knowledge. But from
the complete analysis of these conceptions themselves, as
also from complete investigation of those derived from
them, abstains with reason partly because would he
deviating from the end in view to occupy itself with this
analysis, since this process not attended with the difficulty
and insecurity to be found in the synthesis, to which our
critique entirely devoted, and partly because would be
inconsistent with the unity of our plan to burden this essay
with the vindication of the completeness of such an analysis
and deduction, with which, after all, we have at present
nothing to do. This completeness of the analysis of these radical conceptions, as well as of the deduction from the
? a priori which may be given the analysis, we can, however, easily attain, provided only that we are in pos session of all these radical conceptions, which are to serve as principles of the synthesis, and that in respect of tills main purpose nothing wanting.
To the Critique of Pure Reason, therefore, belongs all that constitutes transcendental philosophy and the complete idea of transcendental philosophy, but still not the science itself oecause only proceeds so far with the analysis as necessary to the power of judging completely of our syn thetical knowledge a priori.
The principal thing we must attend to, in the division of the parts of science like this, that no conceptions must tnter which contain aught empirical other words, that
conceptions
? ? it
;
it is
; in
by
a
it
a a
is :
is
a a
;
it a is
it is
is
it
it
it
is
;
It is
is,
? 18
INTROUUCTION.
the knowledge i prion" must be completely pure. Hence, although the highest principles and fundamental conceptions of morality are certainly cognitions & priori, yet they do not belong to transcendental philosophy ; because, though they certainly do not lay the conceptions of pain, pleasure, desires, inclinations, &c. , (which are all of empirical origin) at the foundation of its precepts, yet still into the conception of duty, --as an obstacle to be overcome, or as an incitement which should not be made into a motive, --these empirical conceptions must necessarily enter, in the constiuction of a system of pure morality. Transcendental philosophy is con sequently a philosophy of the pure and merely speculative reason. For all that is practical, so far as it contains mo tives, relates to feelings, and these belong to empirical sources of cognition.
If we wish to divide this science from the universal point of view of a science in general, it ought to comprehend, first, a Doctrine of the Elements, and, secondly, a Doctrine of tht Method of pure reason. Each of these main divisions will have its subdivisions, the separate reasons for which we cannot here particularise. Only so much seems necessary, by way of introduction or premonition, that there are two sources of human knowledge (which probably spring from a common, but to us unknown root), namely, sense and under standing. By the former, objects are given to us ; by the latter, thought. So far as the faculty of sense may contain representations h priori, which form the conditions under which objects are given, in so far it belongs to transcendental
? The transcendental doctrine of sense must form the first part of our science of elements, because the con ditions under which alone the objects of human knowledge are givea, must precede those under which they are thought.
philosophy.
? ? ? ? OF PURE REASON.
TRANSCENDENTAL DOCTRINE OF ELEMENTS.
CRITIQUE
? ? ? TRANSCENDENTAL DOCTRINE OF ELEMENTS. PART FIRST.
TRANSCENDENTAL ESTHETIC.
? 1. Introductory.
In whatsoever mode, or by whatsoever means, our know ledge may relate to objects, it is at least quite clear, that the only manner in which it immediately relates to them, is by means of an intuition. To this as the indispensable ground work, all thought points. But an intuition can take place >>nly in so far as the object is given to us. This, again, is only possible, to man at least, on condition that the object affect the mind in a certain manner. The capacity for receiving re presentations (receptivity) through the mode in which we are affected by objects, is called sensibility. By means of sensi bility, therefore, objects are given to us, and it alone furnishes us with intuitions ; by the understanding they are thought, and from it arise conceptions. But all thought must directly, ' r indirectly, by means of certain signs, relate ultimately to intuitions ; consequently, with us, to sensibility, because in no other way can an object be given to us.
The effect of an object upon the faculty of representation, sc far as we are affected by the said object, is sensation. That sort of intuition which relates to an object by means of sensa tion, is called an empirical intuition. The undetermined ob
ject of an empirical intuition, is called phenomenon. Thnt which in the phenomenon corresponds to the sensation, I term its matter ; but that which effects that the content of the pheno menon can be arranged under certain relations, I call its form. But that in which our sensations are merely arranged, and by which they are susceptible of assuming a certain form, can not be itself sensation. It is then, the matter of all pbeno- mena that is given to us h posteriori ; the form must lie ready i priori for them in the mind and consequently can be re garded separately from all sensation.
? ? ? ? 22 TRANSCENDENTAL JS8THETI0.
I call all representations pure, in the transcendental n lean ing of the word, wherein nothing is met with that belongs to sensation. And accordingly we find existing in the mind << priori, the pure form of sensuous intuitions in general, in which all the manifold content of the phenomenal world ii nrranged and viewed under certain relations. This pure form of sensibility I shall call pure intuition. Thus, if I take away from our representation of a body, all that the under standing thinks as belonging to as substance, force, divisi bility, &c. , and also whatever belongs to sensation, as impe netrability, hardness, colour, &c. yet there still something left us from this empirical intuition, namely, extension and shape. These belong to pure intuition, which exists priori
in the mind, as mere form of sensibility, and without any real object of the senses or any sensation.
The science of all the principles of sensibility priori, call Transcendental JEsthetic. * There must, then, be such science, forming the first part of the transcendental doctrine of elements, in contradistinction to that part which contains the principles of pure thought, and which called transcen dental logic.
In the science of transcendental esthetic accordingly, we shall first isolate sensibility or the sensuous faculty, by sepa rating from all that annexed to its perceptions by the conceptions of understanding, so that nothing be left but em pirical intuition. In the next place we shall take away from this intuition all that belongs to sensation, so that nothing may remain but pure intuition, and the mere form of phaj-
* The Germans are the only people who at present use this word to indicate what others call the critique of taste. At the foundation of this term lies the disappointed hope, which the eminent analyst, Baum- garten, conceived, of subjecting the criticism of the beautiful to principles of reason, and so of elevating its rules into science. But his endeavours were vain. For the said rules or criteria are, in respect to their chief sources, merely empirical, consequently never can serve as determinate laws priori, by which our judgment in matters of taste to be directed.
rather our judgment which forms the proper test as to the correct ness of the principles. On this account advisable to give up the use of the term as designating the critique of taste, and to apply solely to that doctrine, which true scieLce,-- the science of the laws of sensibility -- and thus come nearer to the language and the sense of the ancients in their well-known division of the objects of cognition into m'oSi;ra icai vonra or to share with speculative philosophy, and emilloj partly in tran scendental. uartlY in psvcholnsicr. l signification.
? ? ? a
a
it
it
it
is
is
it
it is
a
It is
a
a
,aI
is
is
is
d
d
;
it,
? JlETAPHrSIOAL EXPOSITION OF 8PACB, 2. ')
nomsna, which is all that the sensibility can afford a priori. From this investigation it will be found that there are two ore forms of sensuous intuition, as principles of knowledge
priori, namely, space and time. To the consideration of these we shall now proceed.
SECTION I. OF SPACE.
? 2. Metaphysical Exposition of this Conception.
Bx means of the external sense (a property of the mind), we represent to ourselves objects as without us, and these all in space. Therein alone are their shape, dimensions, and rela tions to each other determined or determinable. The internal sense, by means of which the mind contemplates itself or its internal state, gives, indeed, no intuition of the soul as an object ; yet there is nevertheless a determinate form, under which alone the contemplation of our internal state is pos sible, bo that all which relates to the inward determinations of the mind is represented in relations of time. Of time we cannot have any external intuition, any more than we can have an internal intuition of space. What then are time and space ? Are they real existences I Or, are they merely relations or de terminations of things, such however, as would equally belong to these things in themselves, though they should never become objects of intuition ; or, are they such as belong only to the form of intuition, and consequently to the subjective consti tution of the mind, without which these predicates of time and space could not be attached to any object ? In order to become informed on these points, we shall first give an expo sition of the conception of space. By exposition, I mean the
clear, though not detailed, representation of that which belongs to a conception ; and an exposition is metaphysical, when it contains that which represents the conception as given a priori.