Attempt to Introduce the Concept of Negative Quantities into World Wisdom
May 2024 · Livraria Press
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About this ebook
A new translation of "Attempt to Introduce the Concept of Negative Quantities into World Wisdom" from the original German manuscript first published in 1763. The original German title is "Versuch den Begriff der negativen Größen in die Weltweisheit einzuführen". This new edition contains an afterword by the translator, a timeline of Kant's life and works, and a helpful index of Kant's key concepts and intellectual rivals. This translation is designed for readability, rendering Kant's enigmatic German into the simplest equivalent possible, and removing the academic footnotes to make this critically important historical text as accessible as possible to the modern reader. The early sections of the treatise discuss the utility of mathematical methods in philosophical reasoning, emphasizing the potential of mathematical concepts, such as negative quantities, to enhance metaphysical understanding. Kant critically evaluates existing philosophical methods and proposes the integration of mathematical precision into philosophical discourse. Kant delves into the mathematical understanding of negative numbers and explores their philosophical implications, arguing for their relevance beyond mere mathematical operations. The paper presents a detailed exploration of how negative quantities, understood mathematically, can contribute to a more nuanced understanding of metaphysical concepts. The paper also discusses the opposition between logical and real oppositions, drawing parallels and distinctions between mathematical and philosophical reasoning. Kant emphasizes the importance of considering both types of opposition in understanding philosophical problems, and argues that the concept of negative quantities offers a novel way of approaching these problems.
About the author
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was a German philosopher whose work in epistemology, ethics, and metaphysics shaped the course of Western philosophy. In his landmark work, Critique of Pure Reason, Kant proposed "transcendental idealism," asserting that human knowledge is limited by the mind's structures, which mediate our understanding of reality. This "Copernican revolution" in philosophy argued that we can only know phenomena (appearances) and not noumena (things-in-themselves). In Critique of Practical Reason, Kant introduced the "categorical imperative," a foundational principle in ethics that calls for actions to be universally applicable. Kant's focus on autonomy, moral duty, and rationality laid the groundwork for modern ethical and political thought, and his ideas continue to influence fields such as philosophy, law, and cognitive science, positioning him as a central figure in the Enlightenment.
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