We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
Kant’s Principles for the Construction of Concepts
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 October 2022
In the seventh paragraph of the Preface to MAN, Kant contends that a discipline contains only as much “proper science” as mathematics is applicable within it (4:470). In the eighth and ninth paragraphs, he uses the examples of psychology and chemistry to illustrate how “improper” sciences can fail to meet this condition.1 The tenth through twelfth paragraphs aim to show that metaphysics is necessary for “proper” natural science (as Kant first asserted in the sixth paragraph), by arguing that metaphysical principles are needed specifically for the application of mathematics. This discussion spans the middle third of the (eighteen-paragraph-long) Preface, and its length and centrality indicate that securing the applicability of mathematics is crucial for Kant’s foundational project.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
