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‘With a Philosophical Eye’: the role of mathematical beauty in Kant’s intellectual development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2020

Courtney David Fugate
Courtney David Fugate*
Affiliation:
Civilization Studies, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon FCHI, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
*
*Email: courtney.fugate@gmail.com
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Abstract

This paper shows that Kant’s investigation into mathematical purposiveness was central to the development of his understanding of synthetic a priori knowledge. Specifically, it provides a clear historical explanation as to why Kant points to mathematics as an exemplary case of the synthetic a priori, argues that his early analysis of mathematical purposiveness provides a clue to the metaphysical context and motives from which his understanding of synthetic a-priori knowledge emerged, and provides an analysis of the underlying structure of mathematical purposiveness itself, which can be described as unintentional, but also as objective and unlimited.

Keywords

mathematicsbeautyKantWolffessencepurposivenessdemonstration of God’s existence
Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Philosophy , Volume 44 , Issue 5-6: Special Issue: Mathematics in Kant’s Critical Philosophy , December 2014 , pp. 759 - 788
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Journal of Philosophy 2014

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