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stankovic, sasa thesis.pdf - Atrium - University of Guelph

stankovic, sasa thesis.pdf - Atrium - University of Guelph

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transcendental ideas have no objective validity because they do not apply in sense experience: “I<br />

understand by idea a necessary concept <strong>of</strong> reason to which no corresponding object can be given<br />

in sense-experience. Thus the pure concepts <strong>of</strong> reason, now under consideration, are<br />

transcendental ideas” (CPR A327/B384). We come to this point. That it is the matter rather than<br />

the form <strong>of</strong> experience that determines the objective validity <strong>of</strong> subjective conditions <strong>of</strong> thought<br />

means that it is the presence <strong>of</strong> sensation that determines the objective validity <strong>of</strong> subjective<br />

conditions <strong>of</strong> thought. It is the presence <strong>of</strong> sensation that distinguishes between knowledge and<br />

illusion.<br />

“Sensation presupposes the actual presence <strong>of</strong> the object” (CPR A50/B74). Die<br />

Empfindung setzt die wirkliche Gegenwart des Gegenstandes voraus. In order for there to be<br />

sensations there have to be objects that stehen the senses entgegen, die Gegenstände. Once again<br />

note Kant’s opening paragraph. “There can be no doubt that all our knowledge begins with<br />

experience. For how should our faculty <strong>of</strong> knowledge be awakened into action did not objects<br />

[Gegenstände] affecting our senses partly <strong>of</strong> themselves produce representations, partly arouse<br />

the activity <strong>of</strong> our understanding to compare these representations, and, by combining or<br />

separating them, work up the raw material <strong>of</strong> the sensible impressions into that knowledge <strong>of</strong><br />

objects which is entitled experience?” (CPR B1). It is die Gegenstände that affect the senses and<br />

awaken the faculty <strong>of</strong> knowledge. What does this mean? That it is the presence <strong>of</strong> sensation that<br />

determines the objective validity <strong>of</strong> subjective conditions <strong>of</strong> thought in fact means that it is the<br />

presence <strong>of</strong> der Gegenstand that determines the objective validity <strong>of</strong> subjective conditions <strong>of</strong><br />

thought. Kant makes this point in the transcendental analytic. “Only thus, by demonstration <strong>of</strong><br />

the a priori validity <strong>of</strong> the categories in respect <strong>of</strong> all objects <strong>of</strong> our senses, will the purpose <strong>of</strong><br />

the deduction be fully attained. But in the above pro<strong>of</strong> there is one feature from which we cannot<br />

47

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