Tutorial � Allais, history VIII � Kant, space + time

Greg Detre

8/3/01

 

Arthur Eddington � Nature of the Physical World � discussion of time

 

Evans agrees with Strawson + Kant � we need space

Evans PQ + SQ � cf Locke???

 

Hero needs pitch recognition, but not perfect pitch

master sound Doppler effect

 

does Hero have will, e.g. failures in receptivity?

 

Hero as a for/backward robot � but that�s adding another dimension

 

Transcendental Arguments as response to scepticism � condition of having knowledge of an objective world

 

doesn't help the Cartesian sceptic

is not arguing for an objective world � assuming one

and arguing for our perception of it

 

let�s say we were using this as an argument for cause

refute Humean sceptic � that causation must be true if there�s an objective world

 

Berkeley � matter = incoherent notion

need matter (Evans) for grounded sensations

need substrate to make experiences objective (Berlin)

if you�re sitting in an identically but numerically distinct chair then God preserves temporal continuity + objectivity

but without God � can you make sense of it not being the same chair?

same atoms

 

does this make space a priori?

need space to be rational??? no, need objectivity

needs second dimension � is that necessarily space-like

what is �space-like�???

 

Strawson doesn't want to make the move that space + time are mind-independent

philosophy = exploring necessary features of our conceptual scheme

Kantian project, without the idealism

 

red square blue circle yelow triangle

what more do you need than regularity?

faith that the red square is always there, even unperceived

Hume says that�s Custom - inadequate

 

need space for this permanent world

 

Evans � don�t need master sound, only order + regularity

= quasi-spatial map

then:

space = will + regularity???

 

space = assumption about what explains the regularity???

or just quantifiable/distanced regularity???

number form of space??? �/span> geometry???

how important is geometry for Kant???

space as directed/ordered regularity???

space = phenomenologically essential to experience � spatial map has a qualitative character

it�s all about object permanence???

 

space + time aren't Kant�s only claims like this

space + time aren't categories(???) (substance, cause, negation)

principles � substance is conserved

space + time are non-conceptual/propositional = framework of induction

space + time �abstract general ideas� like categories

experience doesn't justify (transcendental argument) but originates

 

Questions

what would it take for Hero to think of unperceived sounds???

�/span> objectivity

is the master sound necessary for someone with perfect pitch???

is the master sound about pitch???

could we imagine 2D time without space???

well, you need >1 dimension

causation without space???

how does Strawson define objectivity except as �public�???

creature in a non-space world objectivity???

could you have the resources for qualitative identification but numeric distinct � need a space-like dimension

cf Hawking 2D insufficient for intestines

2D � sense + choice � need choice for objectivity