Philosophy Faculty Publications

Kant's General Logic and Aristotle

Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2008

Publication Source

Proceedings of the XXII World Congress of Philosophy

Abstract

In the Critique of Pure Reason, Kant uses the term “logic” in a bewildering variety of ways, at times making it close to impossible to determine whether he is referring to (among others) general logic, transcendental logic, transcendental analytic, a "special" logic relative to a specific science, a "natural" logic, a logic intended for the "learned" (Gelehrter), some hybrid of these logics, or even some still-more abstract notion that ranges over all of these uses. This paper seeks to come to grips with Kant's complex use of "logic."

Kant is standardly regarded as saying that since Aristotle, there need be no more concern about logic as a discipline or a field of study, and that Aristotle (with some minor embellishments, in terms of presentation) is the last word in logic.

I argue here that, in spite of Hegel, Peirce, Strawson, and others, one must take into consideration Kant’s sophisticated critique of Aristotle’s logic in order to see Kant’s own conception of logic in contrast to that of Aristotle’s. In this way, Kant's strategy in the First Critique—grounded as it is in logic—becomes more plausible, defensible, and, consequently, more attractive.

Inclusive pages

181-189

Comments

Paper appeared in Volume 16, "Modern Philosophy." Permission documentation is on file.

Publisher

World Congress of Philosophy

Volume

16

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