Kant's response to the problem of induction

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2008-08

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Abstract

In this paper, I examine Immanuel Kant’s response to David Hume’s problem of induction. I pay particular attention to Kant’s main writings on causation: the Second Analogy in The Critique of Pure Reason and the Introduction to The Critique of Judgment. I agree with Paul Guyer that Kant does not provide a solution to the problem in the Critique of Reason. I disagree with Guyer, however, that Kant also does not provide a solution in the Critique of Judgment: whereas Guyer concludes that Kant tells us that we merely assume – and cannot prove - that induction is justified, I conclude that Kant argues for an externalist justification of induction.

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Keywords

Causation, Guyer, Problem of induction, Hume, Kant

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