harper kant apriori matl nec

8/10/2019 Harper Kant Apriori Matl Nec

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KANT ON THE A PRIORI AND MATERIAL NECESSITY

William Harper

I. "A Priori, Empirical", an Nece!!ar

#$ A Priori %!$ &'a& ('ic' i! )orro(e *rom E+perience

In &'e In&roc&ion &o &'e *ir!& ei&ion o* KR-. Kan&c'arac&eri/e! a priori 0no(le1e in &'e *ollo(in1pa!!a1e2

E+perience &ell! !, inee, ('a& i!, 3& no& &'a& i& a!& nece!!aril3e !o, an no& o&'er(i!e$ I& &'ere*ore 1i%e! no &re ni%er!ali&4 anrea!on, ('ic' i! !o in!i!&en& pon &'i! 0in o* 0no(le1e, i! &'ere*oreore !&i la&e 3 i& &'an !a&i!*ie$ Sc' ni%er!al co1ni&ion!5Er0enn&ni!!e6, ('ic' a& &'e !a#e &i#e po!!e!! &'e c'arac&er o* innernece!!i&, #!& in &'e!el%e!, inepenen&l o* e+perience, 3e clear ancer&ain$ T'e are &'ere*ore en&i&le 0no(le1e 5Er0enn&ni!!e6 a priori4('erea!, on &'e o&'er 'an, &'a& ('ic' i! 3orro(e !olel *ro

e+perience i!, a! (e !a, 0no(nonl a po!&eriori or npiricall (lRY Al786$ $$$9

Kan& &ell! ! &'a& !c' ni%er!al co1ni&ion! a! al!o po!!e!!&'e c'arac&er o* inner nece!!i& are &o 3e en&i&le a

priori, !ince &'e m!& in &'em!el%e!, inepenen&l o*e+perience, 3e clear an cer&ain$ T'i! !11e!&! a core iea

o* a priori0no(le1e a! &'a& ('ic' independentLy ofexpePience is cLearand cePtain. T'e main con&ra!& i! (i&'an iea o* mePeLy empiPiaaL knowLedge c'arac&eri/e a!

0no(le1e boProwed soLeLy{Pom expePience. Kan& &ell! ! &'a& &'i! merel empirical0no(le1e can inc#e no 0no(le1e o* nece!!i& an, &'ere*ore, no &re ni%er!ali&$

T'i! ini&ial con&ra!& oe! no& !eem &o 3e an e+'a!&i%ei%i!ion o* 0no(le1e$ Con!ier &'e *ir!& par& o*Propo!i&ionII *rom )oo0 III o* Ne(&on! Principia:

#: All &ran!la&ion! o* KRY are ;ro S#i&' 5#


2/34

8=> WILLIAM HARPER

T'a& &'e *orce! 3 ('ic' &'e pri#ar plane&! are con&inall ra(n o**

*rorec&ilinear lo&ion!, an re&aine in &'eir proper or3i&!, &en &o

&'e!n $ 5Ca?ori #@6$

Or 0no(le1e o* &'i! propo!i&ion i! !rel no& properle!cri3e a! "3orro(e !olel *rom e+perience", nor (ol(e e!er& 3e i& a! "c1ear an cer&ain inepenen&l o*e+per& ence "$ I !'all ar1e &'a& &'i! propo!i&ion,&o1e&'er (i&' o&'er propo!i&ion! Ne(&on claim! &o ece*rom p'enomena,an inee, per'ap!, Ne(&on.! principle o*ni%er!al 1ra%i&a &ion i&!el*, con& *or Kan& a!in&ere!&in1 e+ample! o* mi+e i&em! o* 0no(le1e in*erre*rom a com3ina&ion o* e+perience an !&ric&l ni%er!alprinciple!$ I !'all al!o ar1e &'a& accorin1 &o Kan&.!o**icial c'arac&eri/a&ion o* nece!!i& in &'e Po!&la&e!o* Empirical T'o1'& !c' mi+e i&em! o* 0no(le1econ& a! nece!!ar$

2. ni%er!ali& an &'e Merel Empirical

Man commen&a&or! &a0e Kan& &o in&en an e+'a!&i%e cla!!i*ica&ion, !o &'a& &'e core !en!e o* "a priori 0no(le1e" a!"clear an cer&ain inepenen&l o* e+perience" ma 3e eBi%alen&l c'arac&eri/e a! "non7empirical 0no(le1e"$ D$ P$Drer 5#6 p&! &'e poin& a! *ollo(!2

) 11a priori" ?1#en&! 'e Kan& !iapl aean! non7e#pirical ?1#en&!$

Hi!(or .a priori. i! 3& a !non# *or .non7elpirical 1

On Drer.! e+plica&ion ?1men& ra&'er &'an 0no(le1e i! 3a!ic$ An i&em o* empirical 0no(le1e (ol 3e &'e con&en& o*an empirical ?1men& 0no(n &o 3e &re$ ;or or pre!en& prpo!e!, &'e impor&an& &'in1 a3o& &'i! cla!!i*ica&ion i! &'a&Drer ma0e! i& e+'a!&i%e 3 in&erpre&in1 .empirical. 3roal$

So##e ?1#en&! can 3e %eri*ie aerel 3 o3!er%in1 ('a& &'e are a3o&4o&'er ?1#en&! can 3e %eri*ie 3 in*erence *ro ('a& i! o3!er%e$ W'e&'eri& can 3e %eri*ie irec&l or inirec&l, Kan& #ean! 3 an e#pirical ?1len& a ?1#en& ('ic' col 3e e o& &o 3e &re or *al!e onlr 3 !o#erecor!e &o o3!er%a&ion 5Drer #


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THE A PRIORI AND MATERIAL NECESSITY241

T'i! 3roa con!&ral o* .empirical. i! apparen&l!ppor& e 3 Kan&.! o*&en repea&e in!i!&ence &'a& apriori co1ni &ion! en&er in&o e+perience i&!el*$ Inee,&'e para1rap' immeia&el *ollo(in1 &'e *ir!& ei&ion &e+&(e 'a%e 3een con!ierin1 ma0e! &'i! %er poin&$

Now we find, what is especially noteworthy, that even into our experience s

ther e enter conitions !"r#enntnisse$ which aust have their oriin a pri

ori, and whi c h perhaps serve on ly to ive coherence to our sense r epresen

tations% &or if we eliainate fro1 our experiences everythin which 'elons

to the senses, there still renin certain oriina l concept s and certain

udaents de r ived fro thea , whi c h au st have arisen coapletely a priori ,

independently of experience, in as auch as they ena'le u s to say, or at

l east lead u s to 'elieve that we can say, in reard to the o'ects whichappear to the sen ses, 1)re tha n aere experience would teach**ivin to as

sertions true universality and strict necessity (+RY 2$%

T'e *ir!& par& o* &'i! pa!!a1e !11e!&! &'a&, accorin1 &oKan&, no& e%en !c' parai1ma&icall empirical ?1men&! a!m o3!er%a&ion &'a& &'ere i! an o3?ec& !'ape appro+ima&elli0e a rec&an1lar !oli o%er &'ere 5mae a! I loo0 a& a 3oo0on m e!06 (ol con& a! "3orro(e !olel *rom e+perience"$It al!o !11e!&! &'a& ('a& mi1'& con& a! "3orro(e !olel*rom e+perience" i! ('a& 3elon1! &o &'e !en!e! alone$

One o* &'e a%o(e aim! o* KR- i! &o a&&ac0 an empirici!&concep&ion o* e+perience &'a& (ol limi& empirical 0no(le1e&o ('a& (e recei%e &'ro1' &'e !en!e!$ So, &'ere i! mc' &o3e !ai *or an in&erpre&a&ion &'a& (ol *i+ &'e e+&en!iono* Kan&.! !e o* .empirical. 3roal &o incle mi +ei&em! a! empi rica l' 0no(le1e$ T'e narro( con!&ra # e%o0e

3 &'e !le1an "3orro(e !olel *rom e+perience" !eem! morein 0eepin1 (i&' Kan&.! empirici!& opponen&! &'an (i&' 'i! o(ncon!iere %ie(!4 ne%er&'ele!!, i& !eem! &o 3e !ome !c'narro( con!&ral 'e in&en! ('en, a! in &'e la!& par& o*&'e pa!!a1e, 'econ&ra!&! &'e a priori, a! a !orce o* &reni%er!ali& an !&ric& nece!!i&, (i&' ('a& mere experiencecan &eac' !$

In &'e pa!!a1e in &'e !econ ei&ion o* KR- ('ere 'e e+pan! on 'i! c'arac&eri/a&ion o* !&ric& ni%er!ali& a! amar0 o* &'e a priori Kan& *r&'er !peci*ie! 'i ! con&ra!&in1!en!e o* .empirical. 3 limi&in1 i& &o &'e merety assumed ancomparat ive universaLity &'a& can 3e 1i%en &'ro1' induction .

"xperien ce never confers on i ts u daents true or strict, 'ut only assued

and coparative universality, throuh inducti o n% -e can properly only say,


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8=8 -.//.,0 ,R"R

&'ere*ore, &'a& a! *ar a! (e 'a%e 'i&'er&o o3!er%e, &'ere i! no e+cep&ion

&o &'i! or &'a& rle 5F7=6$

He al!o !11e!&!

&'a&

E#pirical ni%er!ali& i! onl an ar3 i&rar e+&en!ion o* a %alii&

'olin1 in #o!& ca!e! &o one ('ic' 'ol! in all, *or in!&ance, in &'e

propo!i&ion,1 all 3oie! are 'ea%. 5F=6$

So, (e 'a%e 'ere in &'e propo!i&ion &'a& all 3oie! are

'ea%"('a& Kan& &a0e! &o 3e an e+amp#e o* &'e !or& o*empi rica#1enerali/a&ion (e in*er &'ro1' inc&ion$ Weal!o 'a%e 'i!c'arac&eri/a&ion o* inc&i%e in*erencea! an a+,'&itr-ary e tension of a /a0id ity that hotd s in *ostcases to one thathotds in a1.

T'i! c'arac&eri/a&ion o* inc&i%e in*erence remin! oneo* Hme! accon& o* &'e na&ral in*erence! (e ma0e ('en (e1enera # i /e *rom o3!er%e con!&an& con?nc&ion! 5Hme#


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THE A PRIORI AND MATERIAL NECESSITY 243

!er%e in!&ance! &o a 1enerali/a&ion &'a& prpor&! &o co%er&'i! in*ini& o* in&ene in!&ance!$

I*, a! Kan&.! i!c!!ion !11e!&! , &'e "merel empirical"i! &o 3e # imi &e &o ('a& in*erence! *rom e+perienceHme &'o1'& (e col ra&ionall ?!&i*, &'en mi+e i&em!!c' a! Ne(&on.! in*erence &o cen&ripe&al or3i&al *orce!(ill no&con& a! "merel empirical" $ Inee, on &'i! %er!&ric& con !&ra# mo!& o* &'e in*erence! (e ma0e ine%era #i*e a! (ell a! !cience (ill al!o *ail &o pa!!m!&er a! "merel em pirical"$ A more li3eralin&erpre&a&ion, ('ic' (ol remain &re &o Kan&.!c'arac&eri/a&ion o* &'e "merel empirical" a!('a& inc&ioncan &eac', i! *or&'comin1 i* (e 3pa!! Hme.! !0ep&icalo3&! an le& &'e re!l&! o* ('a& 'e calle or"na&ralinc&i%e in*erence!" con& a! empirical$ I &'in0 ananalo1&o &'e con&ra!& 3e&(een e%en !c' a li3eral %ie( o*inc&ion an na&ral 0in in*erence! in con&emporar !ciencecan i##mi na&e Kan& ! con&ra!& 3e&(een &'e merel empirica# re!l&! o* inc&ion an &'e !or& o* ni%er!ali&&'a&, 'e claim!, reBire! appeal &o &'e a priori$

le& ! !ppo!e &'a& &'e merel empirical allo(! appeal &o('a&e%er i! reBire &o !ppor& pro3a3ili!&ic inc&ion *or area!ona3l 1enero! cla!! o* pro?ec&i3le preica&e! inclin1!peci*ic 1ra%i& %ale!$ Sppo!e (e mea!re &'e !peci*ic1ra%i& o* one !ample o* a 1i%en allo o* copper 5*ore+ample, commercial 3ron/e C, #> n6, &'en ano&'er,an ano&'er, e&c$ In eac' ca!e le& ! !a &'e mea!re%ale i!8.8 &o (i&'in !ome 1i%en &olerance *or mea!remen&! error!$In con&emporar )ae!ian &erm! (e can increa!e or ra&ionale1ree o* 3elie* &'a& an a! e& ne+amine !ample 'a! !peci*ic 1ra%i& F$F a! (e e+amine more an more po!i&i%e in!&ance!$ pro%ie or prior pro3a3i #i& a!!i1nmen&! !a&i!*!ome rela&i%el (ea0 con!&rain&!$ Le& ! allo( Bi&e arin1con!&rain&!2 *or e+ample, an eBal prior pro3a3ili& a!!i1nmen& 3e&(een &'e 1enerali/a&ion an an al&erna&i%e 'po&'e!i!&'a& (ol 'a%e !peci*ic 1ra%i& %ale! inepenen&l anranoml i!&ri3&e$ T'i! (ol allo( or ra&ional e1ree o*3elie* in &'e 1enerali/a&ion, a! (ell a! &'e corre!ponin1!in1lar claim, &o increa!e a! &'e e%ience o* po!i&i%e in!&ance! accmla&e!4 3&, (e (ol no& 3e a3le &o p!' ei&'ero* &'e!e pro3a3ili&ie! &o cer&ain&ie!, no ma&&er 'o( manpo!i&i%e in!&ance! (e o3!er%e$ T'!, &'ere i! a pla!i3le!en!e in ('ic' (e can !a &'a& e%en !c' li3eral inc&i%ein*erence! can pro%ie onl an a!!me an compara&i%e ni%er!ali&$


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244 WILLIAM HARPER

W'a& o (e ac&all o We ma0e a na&ral 0in in*erence$We a!!me o&ri1'& &'a& all !ample! o* a 1i%en allo o* me&al'a%e &'e !ame !peci*ic 1ra%i&$ To ('a&e%er &olerance (e eemor!el%e! &o 'a%e mea!re &'e !peci*ic 1ra%i& o* &'e 1i%en!ample &o 3e F$F, (e eem or!el%e! &o 'a%e e!&a3li!'e F$Fa! &'e !peci*ic 1ra%i& o* all !ample! o* &'a& allo$ Per'ap!&'i! i! an e+ample o* a !or& o* ni%er!ali& &'a& Kan& (ol&ell ! canno& 3e learne &'ro1' mere e+perience$Apparen& l, i& 1oe! 3eon ('a& e%en Bi&e li3eralaccon&! o* pro3a 3ili!&ic inc&ion *rom in!&ance! caneli%er$ I& i! al!o &pical o* con&emporar !cien&i*ic $

prac&ice$ We (ol no& 'a%e mc' le*& o* ('a& (e call!cience i* (e a&&emp&e &o o (i&'o& !c' na&ral 0inin*erence!$

T'i! na&ral 0in in*erence 1oe! &'ro1' onl rela&i%e &o&'eore&ical commi&men&! &'a& eem !peci*ic 1ra%i& &o 3e e!!en&ial &o &'e 0in o* allo a !ample o* me&al i! mae o*$ We(ol no& 3e a3le !imilarl &o in*er &'e !'ape o* o&'er !ample! *rom &'e !'ape o* a 1i%en !ample$ Once a &'eore&icalconcep&ion i! en&renc'e in &'e role o* !peci*in1 &'e na&re

o* !c' 0in! a! or copper a11o i& ma 3e rea!ona3 1e&o&rea& i& a! rela&i%el immne &o re%i!ion$ I& ma (ell

&a0eon a !&a&! a0in &o ('a& P&nam 'a! ca11e &'e"con&e+&a1 apriori" 5P&nam #


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THE A PRIORI AND MATERIAL NECESSITY 246

E+perience &eac'e! ! &'a& a &'in1 i! !o an !o, 3& no& &'a& if canno&3e o&'er(i!e$ ;ir!&, &'en, i* %e 'a%e a propo!i&ion %'ic' in 3ein1&'o1'& i! &'o1'& a! nece!!ar, i& i! an a priori ?1#en&4 an i*3e!ie!, i& i! no&eri%e *ro an propo!i&ion e+cep& one ('ic' 'a! &'e%alii & o* a nece! !ar ?1en&, i& i! an a3!ol&el a priori?1aen& 5F6$

Apparen&l, &'e !a#ien& poin& 'ere i! &'a& mere e+perienceonl &eac'e! ! con&in1encie!, !o &'a& &o &'in0 apropo!i&iona! nece!!ar i! &o ma0e an a priori ?1men&$Ano&'er poin& o* !ome in&ere!& &o ! i! &'e i!&inc&ion

3e&(een merel a priori ?1men&! an absoLuteLy a priori?1men&!$ T'i! i! &inc&ion pre!ppo!e! &'a& one colcorrec&l &'in0 a propo !i&ion a! nece!!ar, &'! ma0in1an a priori ?1men&, e%en &'o1' &'i! ?1men& i! eri%e5in par&6 *rom propo!i&ion!&'a& o no& 'a%e &'e %alii&o* nece!!ar ?1men&!$

W'en (e loo0 more clo!el a& Kan&.! c'arac&eri/a&ion o*!&ric& ni%er!ali& a! a mar0 o* &'e a priori (e *in !ome&en!ion$

T'!, i* a ?1aen& i! &'o1'& (i&' !&ric& ni%er!ali&, &'a& i!, in !c' a

aanner &'a& no e+cep&ion i! allo(e a! po!!i3le, i& i! no& eri%e *ro

e+perience, 3& i! %ali a3!ol&el a priori 5F=4 e#p'a!i! !pplie6$

Here Kan& &ell! ! &'a& i* a ?1men& i! &'o1'& (i&' !&ric&ni %er!a #i&, &'a& i!, !o &'a& no e+cep&ion i! a##o(ea!po!!i3le, &'en i& i! %ali absoLuteLy a priori4 3&, 'e'a!?!& &ol ! &'a& a ?1men& i! %ali absoLuteLy a priorion ly i* 3e!ie! 'a%in1 i&!el* &'e %alii& o* a nece!!ar?1men&, i& i! no& eri%e *rom an propo!i&ion &'a& i! no&al!o nece!!ar$ T'e!e &(o poin&! &o1e&'er a##o( *or a?1men& &'a& i! nece!!ar 3& 'a! le!! &'an !&ric&ni%er!ali&$ T'e &en!ion ari!e! *rom &'e apparen&i**icl& o* ner!&anin1 'o( a propo!i&ion can 3e &'o1'&a! nece!!ar (i&'o& al!o&'in0in1 i& in !c' a (a &'a&no e+cep&ion i! allo(e a! po!!i3le$ Nece!!i& anpo!!i3ili& are !&anarl con!&re a! in&er7e*ina3le$i%en a no&ion o* po!!i3ili&, &'e corre!ponin1 no&ion o*nece!!i& !peci*ie! &'a& a propo!i&ion i!nece!!ar ?!& inca!e i&! ne1a&ion i! no& po!!i3le$

T'i! &en!ion i! re!ol%e ('en (e e+amine Kan&.! o**icialc'arac&eri/a&ion o* po!!i3ili& an nece!!i& in &'e Po!&la&e! o* Empirical T'o1'&$

1. T'a& ('ic' a1ree! %i &' &'e *orl coni&ion! o* e+perience, &'a&

i!,(i&' &'e coni&ion! o* in&i&ion an o* concep&!, i! po!!i3le$


8/34

247 -.//.,0 ,R"R

2. 8ha t which is 'ound up with the aterial condi t ions of e perience, that

is, with sensation, is actual%

3. 8hat which in its connection with the actual is deterined in accordance

with universal conditions of e perience, is (that is, exists as$ necessary (

+R 21:;276*277$%

We 'a%e 'ere &(o no&ion! o* nece!!i&$ ;ir!&, &'ere i! &'e!en!e in ('ic' a propo!i&ion i! nece!!ar i* i&! ne1a&ion i!no& po!!i3le in &'e !en!e e+plica&e in Po!&la&e One$ Some&'in1 nece!!ar in &'i! nconi&ional !en!e (ol *ollo( *rom&'e ni%er!al coni&ion! on o3?ec&! o* e+perience alone,(i&'o& appea# &o an !peci*ic empi rica# con&en&$ Secon,&'ere i! Kan& ! o**ici a# ca&e1or o* nece!!i&, ('ic' i!aconi&ional nece!!i& eri%e *rom ni%er!al coni&ion! o*e+perience &o1e&'er (i&' !ome !peci*ic ac&ali&$ T'i! 0ino* nece!!i& ma reBire appeal &o !ome !peci*ic empiricalcon&en& a! (ell a! &o &'e !&ric&l ni%er!al *ormal coni&ion! on po!!i3le o3?ec&! o* e+perience$

T'e &en!ion i! re!ol%e 3 in&erpre&in1 a ?1men& &'a&'a! &'e !econ 3& no& &'e *ir!& 0in o* nece!!i& a! a priori 3& no& a! a3!ol&el a priori $Sc' a ?1men& (olno&3e a3!ol&el a priori, 3eca!e i& (ol 3e eri%e, inpar&,*rom empirical 0no(le1e &'a& !ome !peci*ic ac&ali&o3 &aine$ I& (ol no& 3e !&ric&l ni%er!al, 3eca!ee+cep &ion! (ol 3e po!!i3le in &'a& i&! ne1a&ion (ol

no& con &raic& &'e ni%er!al coni&ion! o* e+perience$Ne%er&'ele!!, one ('o (a! in a po!i&ion &o 0no( &'erele%an& ac&ali&(ol al!o 3e in a po!i&ion &o rle o&an !c' e+cep&ion$ Accorin1 &o Kan&, 'e (ol 3e in apo!i&ion &o a!cer&ain&'a& &'e 0no(le1e claim in Be!&ion'a &'e %alii& o* a nece!!ar ?1men&$ T'ere*ore, i*nece!!i& i! &o 3e a mar0 o* &'e a priori &'i! ?1men&(ol con& a! a priori, e%en &'o1' i& reBire! !omeempirical e%ience &o eri%e i&$

Kan& ma0e! &'e *o##o(in1 e+p# ana&or remar0! concernin1&'e T'ir Po!&la&e2

/astly, as reard s the third postulate, it concerns u t eri al necessity

in e xistence , and not erely foral and loical necessity in the connection

of concepts% usaenhane, connection? % of the experience, of which the iven per*

% ception is a part, the neces sity of existence @can nenr be #nown froa eon*


9/34

THE A PRIORI AND MATERIAL NECESSITY 24A

cep&!, 3& al(a! onl *ro connec&ion (i&' &'a& ('ic' i! percei%e, inaccorance (i&' ni%er!al la(! o* e+perience$ No( &'ere i! no e+i!&ence&'a& can 3e 0no(n a! nece!!ar ner &'e coni&ion! o* o&'er 1i%enappearance!,!a%e &'e e+i!&ence o* e**ec&! *ro 1i%en ca!e!, in accorance(i&' la(! o* ca!ali& Nece!!i& concern! onl &'e rela&ion! o*appearance! in con*ori& (i&' &'e na#ical la( o* ca!ali& an &'epo!!i3ili& o* in*er rin1 a priori *ro a 1i%en e+i!&ence 5a ca!e6 &oano&'er e+i!&en& 5&'e e**ec&6 5A88G788):)8G6$

Kan& i! ma0in1 i& clear 'ere &'a& &'e nece!!i& e+plica&ein &'e T'ir Po!&la&e i! &'a& (i&' ('ic' an e**ec& i!nece!!i &a&e 3 i&! ca!e$ In &'e Secon Analo1 Kan& ar1e!*or &'eprinciple &'a&

E%er&'in1 &'a& 'appen!, &'a& i!, 3e1in! &o 3e, pre!ppo!e! !o#e&'in1

pon ('ic' i& *ollo(! accorin1 &o a rle 5A#6$

In &'e cor!e o* &'e ar1men&, 'e &ell!

!,

In con*or#i& (i&' !c' a rle &'ere #!& lie in &'a& ('ic' precee!

an e%en& &'e coni&ion o* a rle accorin1 &o ('ic' &'i! e%en& ine%i&a3l

annece!!aril *ollo(! 5A#


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248 -.//.,0 ,R"R

in &'e !en!e o* &'e T'ir Po!&la&e onl i* &'e'po&'e&ical?1men&

i* A &'enB

i! nconi&ionall nece!!ar in &'e !en!e o* &'e ;ir!&Po!& la&e$ T'e com3ina&ion A an not- (ol 'a%e &o 3erle o&a! impo!!i3le 3 &'e *ormal coni&ion! on po!!i3leo3?ec&! o* e+perience i* &'e ac&ali& o* A i! &onece!!i&a&e in &'e !en!e o* &'e T'ir Po!&la&e$ T'i!

(ol !eem &o reBire &'a& &'e !peci*ic ca!al la(corre!ponin1 &o &'e rle connec&in1 a 1i%en ca!e ane**ec& (ol 'a%e &o 3e !&ric&l ni%er!al an &'!a3!ol&el a priori$

T'i! concl!ion can 3e a%oie i* &'e ni%er!al coni&ion!re*erre &o in &'e T'ir Po!&la&e are no& &'e *ormal coni&ion! re*erre &o in &'e ;ir!& Po!&la&e$ One (a &o o &'i!i! &o po!&pone &'e reBiremen& o* nconi&ional nece!!i& 3allo(in1 &'e 'po&'e&ical i* A &'en ) 1 &o 'a%e, i&!el*, onlconi&ional nece!!i&4 &'a& i!, &o 'a%e i&! nece!!i& 3e rela&i%e &o !ome *r&'er ac&ali& A! !o &'a& onl &'e 'po&'e&ical 'po&'e&ical

i* A! &'en, i* A &'en

(ol con& a! nconi&ionall nece!!ar$ Per'ap! &'i! !or&o* po!&ponemen& col no& 3e e+&ene ine*ini&el$ I* no&,&'en i& (ol !eem &'a& more 1eneral 'po&'e&ical!!**icien& &o 1ron &'e e&aile connec&ion! o* !peci*icca!al la(! in ac&ali&ie! (ol 'a%e &o 3e a3!ol&el apriori$

=$ T'e A Priori a! Inepenen& o* E+perience

In &'e !econ ei&ion o* KR- Kan& e+pane on 'i! coreiea o* &'e a priori a! "clear an cer&ain inepenen&l o*e+perience" (i&' 'i! *amo! c'arac&eri/a&ion o* a priori0no(le1e a! "a3!ol&el inepenen& o* all e+perience"$

.n what follows, therefore, we shall understand 'y a priori #nowledeno& 0no(le1e inepenen& o* &'i! or &'a& e+perience, 3& 0no(le1e

a3!o l&el" inepenen& of all e+perience$ Oppo!e &o i& i! e#pirical

0no(le1e, ('ic' i! 0no(le1e po!!i3le onl" a po!&eriori, &'a& i!,&'ro1' e+perience

5F876$

T'i! e+&remel" !&ron1 c'arac&eri/a&ion o* &'e a priori(ol appl", it (ol !eem, onl" &o &'e !en!e o* 11a3!ol&el" a pri7


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THE A PRIORI AND MATERIAL NECESSITY 8=: I want to than# Ro'ert ;utts for providin e with this opportun ity to

wor# out and expre ss these views%

8he paper has 'enefited fro his adviceand encourae%ent over the years% e has 'een especially helpf ul in 1y

atte1pts to for1ulate 34 views on u nific ation% I also want to than#

Jraciela Feierris, 0ichael &ri edun, and -illia% 8ait for a very helpful

discussion of ostensive constructions in eo1etry% 8his u terial ha s also

'en efited fro discussion with +a th leen F#ruhli#, as hav e other parts of

the paper as w ell%


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THE A PRIORI AND MATERIAL NECESSITY 2l1

REFERENCES

Ca?ori, ;$ 5&ran!$6 5#


34/34

272 WILLIAM HARPER

Ki&c'er, P$ 5#6$ . A priori 0no(le1e.$ P+iLosop+icaL2eview LI2 78$

K'n, T$ S$ 5#

harper kant apriori matl nec

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