Abstract
This paper argues that the famous passage that compares Kant's efforts to reform metaphysics with his transcendental idealism to the earlier Copernican revolution in astronomy has a more systematic significance than many recognize. By examining the totality of Kant's references to Copernicus, one can see that Kant's analogy points to more than just a similar reversal of perspective. By situating Kant's comments about Copernicus in relation to his understanding of the logic implicit in the great revolutions in mathematics and natural science, this paper argues that Kant's appeal to the Copernican revolution in astronomy as a forebear to his own transcendental project indicates that his attempt to revolutionize metaphysics by setting it on the secure path of the sciences demands a shift in how we think of the proper object of metaphysics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 89-127 |
| Number of pages | 39 |
| Journal | Con-textos Kantianos: international journal of philosophy |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 26 Jun 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.Keywords
- Copernican revolution
- Copernicus
- Metaphysics
- Transcendental idealism