Prolegomena By Kant

German philosopher Immanuel Kant, uses his writing Prolegomena to discuss the question, is the study of metaphysics possible and what do we gain from studying or practicing it? Kant evaluates this question by discussing what distinguishes metaphysics from other natural sciences and mathematics. The many sections of this book explore this discussion and provide the necessary arguments to solve this question. Kant begins by discussing what the distinguishing feature, “the differentia it has in common with on other science” of cognition, or metaphysics (Kant 15). To Kant, for a study to be a science, it is necessary that it can be distinguished and separated from other established sciences. Cognition is the mental action or process of acquiring

Kant first evaluates the source of metaphysical cognition. One of the primary discussions within the Prolegomena is on a priori and a posteriori knowledge and judgments. A priori cognition comes from pure understanding and pure reason, where as a posteriori knowledge comes from experience or is empirical. Kant states that the sources of metaphysical cognition cannot be empirical and must not be physical but “lie beyond experience” (Kant 15) and must be purely a priori. However, it must also be distinguished from mathematics, which is also a priori in cognition, in turn, Kant labels metaphysics as “pure philosophical cognition” (Kant 16). Kant makes this distinction between mathematics because, while both studies are based on understanding and reason, mathematical cognition is cognition through “reason from the construction of concepts” and philosophical cognition is cognition through “reason from concepts” (Kant 195). Mathematics is the formation of concepts while philosophy is reasoning of the concepts. This was necessary to distinguish between the pure forms of a priori studies and to devise the differentia within the source of the cognition

Kant concludes that the school metaphysics is dialectical nonsense, that it is a debate that will proceed back and forth and have no conclusion. We are drawn to metaphysical questions and reasoning, but it provides no knowledge. This conclusion conflicts with many previous philosopher’s study of metaphysics. Within the section, “Solution to the General Question of the Prolegomena”, Kant describes this notion as the critique. Kant challenges the nature of school metaphysics versus the critique. The main issue Kant evaluates, is the a priori quality of metaphysics. For something to be a priori it must be entirely beyond experience, and in order for a science to provide knowledge, it must be established in experience. Our reasoning cannot provide us with knowledge, but helps us categorize and classify concepts of sensibility, understanding, and reason. Kant questions that if metaphysics is entirely a priori, then it cannot establish experience and will not provide