Kant's Doctrine of Judgments: A Priori and A Posteriori

Kant's Doctrine of Judgments: Universality and Necessity

Kant examines how judgments can possess the characteristics of universality and necessity, similar to those found in physical science and analytical, non-mathematical sciences. He proposes a nuanced division based on:

• The inherent (or non-inherent) relationship between subject and predicate.
• The origin of the judgment.

Based on these criteria, Kant distinguishes between analytic and synthetic judgments:

• Analytic Judgments: The predicate is already contained within the subject.
• Synthetic Judgments: The predicate is *not* contained within the subject.

Examples:

• Analytic Judgment (A Priori): "All bodies are extended." (Extension is inherent to the concept of a body). "The whole is greater than the parts".
• Synthetic Judgment: "All bodies are heavy." (Heaviness is not inherent to the concept of a body, adding new information).

Judgments can also be classified by their source:

• A Priori: Rooted in reason, independent of experience.
• A Posteriori: Derived from experience.

Possible combinations:

• "Analytic A Priori Judgments": All analytic judgments are a priori.
• "Analytic A Posteriori Judgments": Impossible.
• "Synthetic A Priori Judgments": Possible.
• "Synthetic A Posteriori Judgments": Possible.

Kant's Focus: Synthetic A Priori Judgments

Kant is particularly interested in synthetic a priori judgments. These judgments possess universality (like analytic a priori judgments) but also expand our knowledge (like synthetic a posteriori judgments). They are universal and necessary, yet informative. The central question is how these judgments are possible in science, mathematics, physics, and metaphysics, and, crucially, *whether* they are possible in metaphysics.

Kant argues that physics comprises universal, necessary, and synthetic judgments. He also, notably and controversially, claims that mathematical judgments are synthetic a priori.

Structure of the *Critique of Pure Reason*

The Critique of Pure Reason is divided as follows:

Matter and Form in Knowledge

To understand Kant's concept of knowledge, it's crucial to distinguish between the *matter* and the *form* of knowledge. The matter of knowledge originates *outside* the subject, while the form is imposed *by* the subject. Knowledge, therefore, is a synthesis of both, and this is what Kant seeks to analyze.