Transcendental Epistemology

by Tony Cheng

Transcendental arguments were prominent in Western philosophy, German idealism, phenomenological tradition, and P. F. Strawson's thinking. They have fallen out of fashion because of their associations with transcendental idealism and verificationism. They are still invoked by important figures in the analytic tradition even if the very same tradition has cast doubt on such arguments. The nature of transcendental arguments remains Are they supposed to be deductive? Are they synthetic or analytic? If they are a priori, how are they supposed to be about the empirical world? What are their relations to necessity, conceivability, and essence? This Element takes up the challenge of elucidating the nature of transcendental arguments, embedded in the wider context of transcendental epistemology. It will be argued that the key premise 'transcendental conditional' is synthetic, necessary, and a posteriori.

80 pages, Paperback

Published February 15, 2024

Reviews

[Ashley]

3.7 only lacking the focus on language and conceptual analysis, or at least develop more precise concepts and analytical tools to evaluate transcendental arguments with clarity.

[Petra]

Transcendental arguments are synthetic, a posteriori statements of either nomological or metaphysical necessity.

I really need to get around to reading Kripke.