Kant Studies on Mathematics in the Critical Philosophy [Hardcover]

There is a long tradition, in the history and philosophy of science, of studying Kants philosophy of mathematics, but recently philosophers have begun to examine the way in which Kants reflections on mathematics play a role in his philosophy more generally, and in its development. For example, in the Critique of Pure Reason, Kant outlines the method of philosophy in general by contrasting it with the method of mathematics; in the Critique of Practical Reason, Kant compares the Formula of Universal Law, central to his theory of moral judgement, to a mathematical postulate; in the Critique of Judgement, where he considers aesthetic judgment, Kant distinguishes the mathematical sublime from the dynamical sublime. This last point rests on the distinction that shapes the Transcendental Analytic of Concepts at the heart of Kants Critical philosophy, that between the mathematical and the dynamical categories. These examples make it clear that Kant's transcendental philosophy is strongly influenced by the importance and special status of mathematics. The contributions to this book explore this theme of the centrality of mathematics to Kants philosophy as a whole. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Philosophy.

Introduction Emily Carson and Lisa Shabel

1. Spatial representation, magnitude and the two stems of cognition Thomas Land

2. Infinity and givenness: Kant on the intuitive origin of spatial representation Daniel Smyth

3. Kant on the Acquisition of Geometrical Concepts John J. Callanan

4. Kant (vs. Leibniz, Wolff and Lambert) on real definitions in geometry Jeremy Heis

5. Definitions of Kants categories Tyke Nunez

6. Arbitrary combination and the use of signs in mathematics: Kants 1763 Prize Essay and ilý