A transcendental geometry

pp. 103-114

in: Otfried Höffe, Kant's critique of pure reason, Berlin, Springer, 2009

Abstract

The metaphysical exposition of the "Aesthetic" has brought a fresh perspective to the traditional question concerning the nature of space and time. But it is the transcendental exposition which first effectively introduces us to Kant's new question concerning the possibility of certain sciences. The specific manner in which the relevant sciences, namely those of mathematics and mathematical physics, deal with space and time is, of course, the concern of the sciences themselves, but it is the concern of philosophy to show how their approach is possible in the first place. In this respect philosophy attempts to develop a double demonstration: