If you are looking for a book that stretches your
mind and makes for interesting argumentation you might want to read Immanuel
Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason originally printed in 1781. He seeks to
determine what we understand about reality without the use of the senses. He
uses metaphysics which tries to explain our existence in the world. In the
purest sense of the word Immanuel Kant was a Metaphysician. He attempted to see
how far reason alone could discover truths around the world beyond sensory
input.
Kant makes a large distinction between priori and a
posteriori knowledge. Priori knowledge comes from our senses while posterior
knowledge is a higher form of theoretical knowledge seen as independent from
our senses. Posterior knowledge is a hierarchical advancement of our basic
experiences of the data we collect from our environment. It is possible to call
this abstract or theoretical knowledge that allows for projections about the
nature of our world.
Knowledge in its priori form is more synthetic in
the sense that it relates directly to our experiences. When the knowledge is
posterior in form it takes on a more analytic approach. For example, we experience
that rain hits the ground and makes a splat. However, through reflection we can
review multiple experiences over time to learn that rain can make plants grow.
We may have seen greener grass a day after the rain but without an analytical
reflection we wouldn’t have been able to make the connection between rain and
green grass.
Each person sees the world in slightly different
ways. All prior experiences come into our existing filters and understandings.
Without these filters and understands the information would not make a whole
lot of sense. It would be as though someone would have a sensory integration
disorder where the information is only information without previous context. It
would be relatively useless to our needs because it is not processed properly.
Therefore, our mind has a perception and this perception makes the world of
difference in how we view information and make meaning from it to create
behavioral responses.
Even though Immanuel Kant was not an outright
empiricist his book helped in defining and developing the scientific method.
Posterior knowledge should be tested to ensure that the data from our
environment fit within these explanations. Where there are outliers to these
theoretical constructs there would be a need to develop a stronger theoretical
model. Hence the process is to develop the model based upon our experiences and
then test those models to see if they adequately explain what is happening in
our environment. When they don’t explain and predict consistently then there
are other factors to consider.
Most importantly Immanuel Kant discussed the concept
of morality as reason. In essence, all morality is based on the deduction of
natural laws and principles. He certainly makes sense in terms of explaining
that moral laws are often associated with societal structure and our concepts
of right versus wrong. For example, it is wrong to steal because when one does
this they destroy economic trust and this lack of trust can cause societal
chaos. If we are not relatively sure that we can keep what we earn why would we
put forward the effort? Perhaps it is better to become
part of the stealing class or not put forward any effort at all? Since no
society can exist without rules of interaction and engagement it would make
more sense to enforce/reinforce the elemental beliefs of a society without
necessarily forcing society to take any predefined vantage point of these root
beliefs. Are there many justifications for not stealing? You only need to pick
one regardless of your reasoning as it all ends at the same conclusion.
The book is heavy in terms of its knowledge and
discussion. The concepts are theoretical by nature but have transformed the way
people think. As you read through this book you will likely need to reread a
few paragraphs as Immanuel Kant likes to have long winded rhetorical
discussions. You can get temporarily lost in his train of thought. It is his
way of connecting the information to create conclusions that others can agree
with. Any student who wants to understand the underpinnings of scientific
thought, psychological principles, or societal morality should pick up a book.
As with all great works they are generally ignored upon their completion but
end up transforming the world later.
All
the preparations of reason, therefore, in what may be called pure philosophy,
are in reality directed to those three problems only [God, the soul, and
freedom].- Immanuel Kant
Kant, I. (2007) Critique
of Pure Reason. Penguin Books: UK (Originally published in 1781)
ISBN978-0-140-44747-7
Pages 686
Price: $14
