The Doctrine of Self-positing and Receptivity in Kant's Late ...
The Doctrine of Self-positing and Receptivity in Kant's Late ...
The Doctrine of Self-positing and Receptivity in Kant's Late ...
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ecause the only operative rule for the validity <strong>of</strong> this relation is the pr<strong>in</strong>ciple <strong>of</strong><br />
contradiction. In fact, as the only legislat<strong>in</strong>g pr<strong>in</strong>ciple, the lack <strong>of</strong> contradiction is what<br />
restricts the modality <strong>of</strong> the said position: it is logically possible.<br />
An account <strong>of</strong> a merely relational function <strong>of</strong> Setzung opens up the possibility to<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k another mode <strong>of</strong> Se<strong>in</strong> überhaupt: absolute position. Even if all the relative<br />
positions <strong>in</strong> a subject are determ<strong>in</strong>able accord<strong>in</strong>g to the rule <strong>of</strong> contradiction, one would<br />
still only know a set <strong>of</strong> thought relations that may or not present themselves as be<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
case <strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> itself [die Sache an und für sich selbst] – the position <strong>of</strong> s <strong>in</strong> relation to all<br />
<strong>of</strong> its characteristics is still only a conception <strong>of</strong> Se<strong>in</strong> überhaupt that with regards to<br />
existence, is valid only as a logical possibility. Relations posited as united under a<br />
common concept are be<strong>in</strong>g established, but whether or not the concept with all <strong>of</strong> its<br />
predicates actually exists as a state <strong>of</strong> affairs outside thought, rema<strong>in</strong>s fully unknown.<br />
Thus far, with respect to its modality, position expresses Se<strong>in</strong> as a possibility <strong>in</strong> respectus<br />
logicus <strong>of</strong> the said relations <strong>of</strong> determ<strong>in</strong>ation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> other form <strong>of</strong> Se<strong>in</strong> überhaupt is what Kant qualifies as absolute position.<br />
This means that what is addressed is the actuality or existence <strong>of</strong> the set <strong>of</strong> relations <strong>of</strong><br />
determ<strong>in</strong>ations over <strong>and</strong> beyond its relative position <strong>in</strong> non-contradictory thought.<br />
Considered thus <strong>in</strong>dependently from the concept under which the subject is posited as a<br />
set <strong>of</strong> thought relations, what is accounted for is that which is <strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> for itself; as Kant<br />
says <strong>in</strong> the passage: so this be<strong>in</strong>g [Se<strong>in</strong>] is so much as be<strong>in</strong>g-there [Dase<strong>in</strong>]. <strong>The</strong> mode<br />
<strong>of</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g that is said <strong>of</strong> someth<strong>in</strong>g posited absolutely is real existence.<br />
<strong>The</strong> dist<strong>in</strong>ction that Kant draws <strong>in</strong> his analysis <strong>of</strong> Setzung, however, does not<br />
accommodate the possibility <strong>of</strong> complete <strong>in</strong>dependence <strong>of</strong> one mode <strong>of</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> general<br />
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