1.1 Introduction
Kant’s concern for the synthetic Apriori a distinction needs to be made between the dimension of functional aspects of reality, exhibiting universal (modal) laws (holding for all possible entities), and the dimension of entities characterized by specified type-laws (only holding for a limited class of entities). In passing a number of related issues are adressed, such as the after-effect of the Greek gemometrization of matter, the Achilles’ heel of positivism (the usage of property-terms), and an alternative formulation of the law of energy conservation.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, and Limitations of the Study.
1.2 Background of Study
Since my student days I often asked myself what was really at stake in Kant’s concern for what he called the “synthetical Apriori.” In this article it is my aim to come to terms with the ontic foundation entailed in Kant’s distinction between “synthetically Apriori laws” and “empirical laws.” In order to do that we will have to take into account three distinct but coherent perspectives:
- Issues coming from the history of philosophy and physics;
- Systematic philosophical distinctions; and
- An appeal to the state of affairs in modern physics.
Throughout the history of philosophy there is an awareness of the difference between entities and their properties. In Greek philosophy the dimension of entities eventually was captured by the substance concept. Aristotle proceeds from a primary substance (something supposedly purely individual) but he had to introduce the so called secondary substance (as the universal substantial form of an entity) in order to safeguard the possibility of (conceptual) knowledge (cf. Categoriae, 1 ff.). Whereas the substance has an independent existence, the accidents are dependant upon the substance. Descartes still defines substance in this sense:
“By substance we conceive nothing else than a thing which exists in such a way as to stand in need of nothing beyond itself in order to its existence” (The Principles of Philosophy, par.51).
In fact there are two ways in which one can confuse things and properties:
- The first option attempts to treat properties as if they are things, i.e., it tries to reify properties;
- The second option aims at reducing things to (what we will call:) functional properties, i.e., it tries to functionalize entities (epistemologically speaking it is said to advance a functionalist perspective).
Classical Greek and medieval philosophy by and large adhered to a substantialist understanding of reality, whereas modern philosophy tends to be more functionalist. Almost a century ago this distinction received renewed attention through the publication of Ernst Cassirer’s important work: Substance concept and function concept (Substanzbegriff und Funktionsbegriff 1910). Cassirer comes from the Marburg school of neo-Kantian philosophy. However, in particular adherents of the Baden school of neo-Kantian philosophy, such as Heinrich Rickert, Wilhelm Windelband and Max Weber, promoted a functionalist understanding of reality. Rickert advances the view that the natural sciences proceed in a generalizing fashion, in opposition to the individualizing mode of thought predominant in the (historical) humanities (Rickert, 1912:68-69, 173, 197). Rickert initially develops this perspective by binding the natural sciences to the ideal of transforming all thing concepts into concepts of function (concepts of relation).1 This functionalist orientation of both these neo-Kantian schools historically rely on Kant’s quest for the synthetical Apriori.
It is therefore in advance necessary to emphasize concrete entities planets, plants, animals, human beings, cultural objects, and even human societal forms (such as state, church, business or ethnic group) encompass our experience in a way that is different from the nature and scope of the various aspects of reality. One can also say that the limits or horizon of human experience is characterized by a number of dimensions. The dimension of entities always refers to the entire what-ness of things and as such differs from the dimension of aspects (modalities) which refers to the way in which various things exist. These ways of being (Latin: modi) bring us into contact with a very important dimension of the human experiential horizon.
In answering a what-question we can refer to something: this or that. The entrance to the dimension of entities is offered to us by the dimension of modal aspects. Whenever something is indicated (e.g. a lounge chair) the moral dimension calls forth the how question:
- How is the chair?
- Is it large or small (its spatial way of being)?
- Cheap or expensive (economic function)?
- Weak or strong (physical aspect)?
- Beautiful or ugly (aesthetic modality)?
The how question can be answered with: in this or that way, in distinction from that, this indicates the answer to the question about the concrete what of something.
1.3 Purpose of Study
The purpose of the study of the existing research work is stated as follow;
- To appraise Kant’s Synthetic Aprori,
- To examine Kant’s Concern for the Synthetical Apriori
- To analyze Kant’s Quest for the Synthetic Apriori
- To examine the Crux of Kant’s Synthetic Apriori
1.4 Scope of the Study
The study focuses on the appraisal of Kant’s Synthetic Aprori.
1.5 Motivation
The motivation that prompts the execution of the research work is that, problems found in the existing research work is that there is insufficient information relating to the appraise Kant’s Synthetic Aprori, Kant’s Concern for the Synthetical Apriori, Kant’s Quest for the Synthetic Apriori, and Crux of Kant’s Synthetic Apriori.
1.6 Justification of the Study
Kant's interest in moral matters was not exclusively theoretical. In Metaphysics of Morals (1797) he worked out the practical application of the categorical imperative in some detail, deriving a fairly comprehensive catalog of specific rules for the governance of social and personal morality. What each of us must actually will as universal, Kant supposed, is a very rigid system of narrowly prescribed conduct (Bluelabyrinths, 2021).
In On Perpetual Peace (1795), Kant proposed a high-minded scheme for securing widespread political stability and security. If statesmen would listen to philosophers, he argued, we could easily achieve an international federation of independent republics, each of which reduces its standing army, declines to interfere in the internal affairs of other states, and agrees to be governed by the notion of universal hospitality.
Kant’s goal, when writing the Critique, was essentially to provide a bridge between the two opposing epistemological standpoints of rationalism and empiricism. In particular he wished to counteract Hume’s refutation of metaphysics which was based on the division between matters of fact and relations of ideas. The first step in this task is to distinguish between Apriori and a posteriori (empirical) knowledge. A statement is Apriori when it can’t be proven from experience, even though experience may be needed in order for us to know it. On the other hand a statement or principle is knowable a posteriori when it can be proven or disproven from experience. Kant recognizes that our knowledge starts with experience but that this is not the limit of our knowledge, experience may make knowable to us claims that are not derived from experience (Bluelabyrinths, 2021).
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
1.8 Methodology
The research methodology of this work is based on analysis of data from Kant’s Synthetic Aprori and showing relevant sections and statements or speech of Kant.
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