Abstract
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 35-50 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Journal of Social and Biological Structures |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1991 |
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Keywords
- Kant
- critical philosophy
- evolutionary biology
- character of the mind
- intuition
- evolutionary lineage
- Darwin
- physical determinism
- psychoneural identity
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Kant and Darwin. / Smith, Christopher U.M.
In: Journal of Social and Biological Structures, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1991, p. 35-50.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Kant and Darwin
AU - Smith, Christopher U.M.
PY - 1991
Y1 - 1991
N2 - The central theses of Kant's critical philosophy are sometimes said to have been overtaken by evolutionary biology. This paper considers how far this proposition can be sustained. I argue that the ‘architectonic’ or ‘system-building’ character of the mind, the categories and the forms of intuition, can indeed be seen as the outcome of a particular evolutionary lineage in a Darwinian world. I argue, further, that the principal motive energizing the critical philosophy is the 'nightmare' of physical determinism. An alternative escape route from this particular nightmare is rehearsed. If this route is taken, the intricate arguments of the Critiques are unnecessary to save moral action in a world of things. Nonetheless, insofar as 'first philosophy' necessarily starts from within the philosopher's own subjectivity, Kant's work retains its power. I suggest that the Kantian and the Darwinian interpretations are to an extent complementary. If this is so, some form of evolutionarily-informed dual-aspect psychoneural identity theory could combine the essence of the two interpretations.
AB - The central theses of Kant's critical philosophy are sometimes said to have been overtaken by evolutionary biology. This paper considers how far this proposition can be sustained. I argue that the ‘architectonic’ or ‘system-building’ character of the mind, the categories and the forms of intuition, can indeed be seen as the outcome of a particular evolutionary lineage in a Darwinian world. I argue, further, that the principal motive energizing the critical philosophy is the 'nightmare' of physical determinism. An alternative escape route from this particular nightmare is rehearsed. If this route is taken, the intricate arguments of the Critiques are unnecessary to save moral action in a world of things. Nonetheless, insofar as 'first philosophy' necessarily starts from within the philosopher's own subjectivity, Kant's work retains its power. I suggest that the Kantian and the Darwinian interpretations are to an extent complementary. If this is so, some form of evolutionarily-informed dual-aspect psychoneural identity theory could combine the essence of the two interpretations.
KW - Kant
KW - critical philosophy
KW - evolutionary biology
KW - character of the mind
KW - intuition
KW - evolutionary lineage
KW - Darwin
KW - physical determinism
KW - psychoneural identity
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/014017509190023J?via%3Dihub
U2 - 10.1016/0140-1750(91)90023-J
DO - 10.1016/0140-1750(91)90023-J
M3 - Article
VL - 14
SP - 35
EP - 50
JO - Journal of Social and Biological Structures
JF - Journal of Social and Biological Structures
SN - 0140-1750
IS - 1
ER -