Kant and the Metaphysics of Causality [Hardcover]

A book about Kant's views on causality as understood in their proper historical context.This is a book about Kant's views on causality as understood in their proper historical context. Specifically, Eric Watkins argues that a grasp of Leibnizian and anti-Leibnizian thought in 18th century Germany helps one to see how the Critical Kant argued for causal principles that have both metaphysical and epistemological elements. On this reading Kant's model of causality does not consist of events, but rather of substances endowed with causal powers that are exercised according to their natures and circumstances.This is a book about Kant's views on causality as understood in their proper historical context. Specifically, Eric Watkins argues that a grasp of Leibnizian and anti-Leibnizian thought in 18th century Germany helps one to see how the Critical Kant argued for causal principles that have both metaphysical and epistemological elements. On this reading Kant's model of causality does not consist of events, but rather of substances endowed with causal powers that are exercised according to their natures and circumstances.Eric Watkins argues that a grasp of Leibnizian and anti-Leibnizian thought in eighteenth-century Germany helps one to see how Kant (in his critical period) argued for causal principles that have both metaphysical and epistemological elements. According to this interpretation, Kant's model of causality does not consist of events, but rather of substances endowed with causal powers that are exercised according to their natures and circumstances.Introduction; Part I. Causality in Context: 1. Pre-established harmony versus physical influx; 2. Kant's pre-critical theory of causality; Part II. Causality in the Critical Period: 3. Kant's second and third analogies of experience; 4. Kant's model of causality; Part III. Causality and Consequences: 5. The metaphysics of freedom; 6. Kant's reply to Hume: historical and contemporary considerations. Eric Watkins' bol“*