Kant and Husserl on Overcoming Skeptical Idealism through Transcendental Idealism

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Abstract

Both Kant and Husserl claim to endorse a form of transcendental idealism which includes some sufficient form of realism in itself. This chapter offers a systematic comparison of this claim for both authors. The first half of this chapter discusses (i) Kant’s criticism of Cartesian skepticism, (ii) his identification of transcendental realism as a fallacious source of that position, and (iii) his own solution based on the fusion of empirical realism with transcendental idealism. I subsequently discuss (iv) whether the negative concept of noumenon Kant accepts obscures this position, and I argue that it need not. Turning to Husserl, the second part discusses his criticism of Cartesian skepticism and the problem of the relation between the intentional and the real object. I argue that Husserl’s position resembles Kant’s on important points. I then turn to Husserl’s concept of a “world beyond ours” in Ideas I and argue that Husserl’s account of the material counter-sense, but also logical possibility of a world beyond consciousness, mirrors Kant’s negative noumenon. I conclude that, disregarding details of their respective proof structures, both views on transcendental idealism are similar in important respects, also regarding the possibility of a noumenal world.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication Husserl, Kant and Transcendental Phenomenology
EditorsIulian Apostolescu, Claudia Serban
PublisherDe Gruyter
Pages163-188
Number of pages26
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-11-056296-5
ISBN (Print)978-3-11-056292-7, 978-3-11-056304-7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1-Jan-2020

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