On The Constructive Principle In Kant 's Critique Of Pure Reason From The Angle Of Mathematics

The constitutive and regulative principles are key concepts in Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, and which are usually viewed as the function of understanding and reason separately. But they are also distinguished in another way, that is, not between understanding and reason but within the understanding itself in Transcendental Analytic. Therefore, the constitutive principles have the broad&narrow sense and the principles in a narrow sense are also called mathematical principles. And this dissertation mainly explores the mathematical principles so that revealing the significance of mathematics for constitutive principles and its limitations by analysing the different patterns of synthesis between the categories of quantity and quality. Because this dissertation aims to investigate the different layers of the constitutive principles in Critique of Pure Reason, especially in the function of understanding, thus our narration about constitutive principles in this dissertation will display in reverse order comparing with Kant’s own narration in text. We will discuss the constitutive principles in a broad sense firstly and the mathematical principles (that is, the constitutive principles in a narrow sense) secondly, at last, we will deal with the relationship between the categories of quantity and quality which are within the mathematical principles.In chapter1, we will firstly distinguish the different ways in pursuit of unity between the constitutive and regulative principles. Secondly, by viewing the ideas of reason as the analogue of schema of category, we will introduce the key role of time to discriminate the constitutive and regulative principles. Finally, we will analyze the similarity and difference between the constitutive principles of understanding and the construction of mathematics in Transcendental Doctrine of Method to pave the way for the next chapters.In chapter2, we will tell the difference between Grundsatze and Prinzipien which are corresponding with constitutive and regulative principles separately, and therefore the constitutive principles within understanding are Grundsatze. And then we can clarify the distinction of objects of the mathematical principles and dynamical principles to point out that how the mathematical principles embodies the constitutive principles, thus the phenomenon world are covered with the shadow of mathematics.In chapter3, by comparing the different uncertainty of objects between Axioms, Anticipations and Analogies, we will investigate the different patterns of synthesis between the categories of quantity and quality further. Because this difference also involves the problem of primary and secondary qualities, we will analyse the theoretical diversity and results between Locke and Kant. Because the material in sensation is completely given, in this way the sensation will not be mathematized by the constitutive principles which reveal the boundary of constitutive principles itself.