Nature and the human standpoint in Kant's critical philosophy

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Felsefe Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2018

Öğrenci: MERT KİREÇCİ

Danışman: ELİF ÇIRAKMAN

Özet:

This study aims to explicate what “nature” means after Kant’s Copernican Revolution. First of all, a presentation of the active contribution of the subject to the experience of nature, within the context of Critique of Pure Reason, will be offered. After discussing the regulative status of the principle of causality (the Second Analogy of Experience) and delineating nature as an a priori concept, the question why pure reason inevitably falls into contradiction with itself will be our central concern. The third antinomy of pure reason, i.e. the conflict between mechanism of nature and human freedom, will be discussed as a case. The source of antinomies will be found in the duality of cognitive powers, and the standpoint that arises from this heterogeneity will be presented as the human standpoint. The idea of the human standpoint will be characterized as both the core and the outcome of Kant’s critical philosophy. Then, the antinomy between the mechanical and teleological conceptions of nature, namely the antinomy of teleological judgment will be presented. After an analysis of the debates surrounding Kant’s solution to the antinomy, his solution will be identified as one that applies the concept of an intuitive understanding. Through an immanent critique, the solution will be presented as one that transgresses the boundaries of critical philosophy. Finally, the implications of the failure of solution for the critical system will be discussed.