Kant's theory of mind : an analysis of the paralogisms of pure reason

## Abstract This book presents the first extensive analysis in English of Kant's systematic criticism of dogmatic accounts of the mind as a distinctive object. This criticism has been much admired, especially in Anglophone circles, but interpreters have rarely paid attention to its full historical context and the many different dimensions of its treatment of the mind. In the Critique of Pure Reason, Kant organizes his criticism in terms of four fundamental fallacies or ‘paralogisms’ of ‘rational psychology’, and he discusses these under the heading of four traditional topics: substantiality, simplicity, identity, and ideality of the soul. A close analysis of Kant's earlier work, including notes from his lectures on metaphysics (most of which have been only recently published in German), demonstrates that Kant's most fundamental views here concern several topics that are not listed as one of the four explicit paralogism headings. In particular, his views on causality, judgement, and the mind's immateriality, independence (freedom), and immortality have a hidden and central importance. Throughout his career, Kant's views evolved on these topics, especially in the period of the extensive revisions of the paralogisms for the second ed. of the first Critique, when Kant published his major works on ethics, the Groundwork and the second Critique. In this period, he also developed his most sophisticated discussions of apperception and transcendental idealism. The volume outlines and evaluates the history and structure of each of Kant's major arguments in this area, and it comments on their relation to major lines of interpretation and developments in contemporary philosophy. It concludes that Kant's ultimate position on most doctrines concerning the mind is much closer to rationalism than is generally appreciated, and that this position also maintains, for the most part, a revolutionary critical perspective that remains highly relevant for current discussions. "In this contribution to Kant studies, originally published in 1982, Karl Ameriks presented the first thorough survey and evaluation of Kant's theory of mind. Ameriks focuses first on Kant's discussion of the Paralogisms in the Critique of Pure Reason, and examines how the themes raised there are treated in the rest of Kant's writings. It is demonstrated that Kant developed a theory of mind that is much more rationalistic and defensible than most interpreters have allowed, a theory that is of great significance for the understanding of his philosophy as a whole." "Kant's Theory of Mind is now brought up to date with a substantial new preface and postscript, as well as many additional references to the literature."--BOOK JACKET

This seminal contribution to Kant studies, originally published in 1982, was the first to present a thorough survey and evaluation of Kant's theory of mind. Ameriks focuses on Kant's discussion of the Paralogisms in the Critique of Pure Reason, and examines how the themes raised there are treated in the rest of Kant's writings. Ameriks demonstrates that Kant developed a theory of mind that is much more rationalistic and defensible than most interpreters have allowed.

Presents a survey and evaluation of Kant's theory of mind. This book demonstrates that Kant developed a theory of mind that is much more rationalistic and defensible than most interpreters have allowed, a theory that is of great significance for the understanding of his philosophy as a whole. This text presents a survey and evaluation of Kant's theory of mind. It focuses on Kant's discussion of the Paralogisms in the Critique of Pure Reason, and examines how the themes raised there are treated in the rest of Kant's writings