Kant's Doctrine of Transcendental Illusion [Hardcover]

This major study of Kant provides a detailed examination of the doctrine of transcendental illusion.This major study of Kant provides a detailed examination of the development and function of the doctrine of transcendental illusion in his theoretical philosophy. The author argues that we cannot understand Kant unless we take seriously his claim that the mind inevitably acts in accordance with ideas and principles that are illusory. Taking this claim seriously, we can make much better sense of Kant's arguments and reach a deeper understanding of the role he allots human reason in science.This major study of Kant provides a detailed examination of the development and function of the doctrine of transcendental illusion in his theoretical philosophy. The author argues that we cannot understand Kant unless we take seriously his claim that the mind inevitably acts in accordance with ideas and principles that are illusory. Taking this claim seriously, we can make much better sense of Kant's arguments and reach a deeper understanding of the role he allots human reason in science.This major study of Kant provides a detailed examination of the development and function of the doctrine of transcendental illusion in his theoretical philosophy. The author argues that we cannot understand Kant unless we take seriously his claim that the mind inevitably acts in accordance with ideas and principles that are illusory. Taking this claim seriously, we can make much better sense of Kant's arguments and reach a deeper understanding of the role he allots human reason in science.Acknowledgements; Note on references and translations; Introduction; Part I. Kant's Discovery of Metaphysical Illusion: 1. Metaphysical error in the pre-critical works; 2. The Inaugural Dissertation; Part II. Fallacies and Illusions in the Critique of Pure Reason: 3. The transcendental employment of the understanding and the conflation of appearances and things in themselves; 4. Transcendental illusion;l3*