Kant’s Proof of the Existence of the Outer World

Author(s):  
Bianca Ancillotti

Abstract In this paper I propose a novel interpretation of Kant’s proof of the existence of the outer world in the Refutation of Idealism. According to this interpretation, Kant’s proof does not provide a regressive explanation of our capacity to determine the temporal order of our experiences. Rather, it expresses a counterfactual reflection on what it takes for something to be actual in contrast to being merely imagined. On the ground of this reflection, Kant argues against the Cartesian sceptic that, even if all our representations of empirical objects other than ourselves failed to be veridical, we would still know a priori that in every situation in which we, as thinking things, actually exist, something outside us in space must necessarily exist.

Author(s):  
Gordon Steinhoff

In the Second Analogy, Kant argues that we must presuppose, a priori, that each event is determined to occur by some preceding event in accordance with a causal law. Although there have been numerous interpretations of this argument, we have not been able to show that it is valid. In this paper, I develop my own interpretation of this argument. I borrow an insight offered by Robert Paul Wolff. In Kant's argument, our need to presuppose that the causal determination of each event rests not upon our need to impose a 'necessary' and 'irreversible' temporal order upon representations of the states of an object, as Kant is usually interpreted, but upon our need to generate a comprehensive representation that includes a certain a priori conception of events in the world around us. Although the argument I attribute to Kant is valid, it cannot compel the Humean skeptic to accept the necessity of presupposing the causal determination of each event: Kant has not successfully responded to Hume in the Second Analogy.


2022 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-32
Author(s):  
Shiyong Yu ◽  

<abstract> <p>Radiocarbon ages must be calibrated due to the remarkable fluctuations of the atmospheric radiocarbon level. The traditional method (e.g., Calib) does not make use of any constraint such as the temporal/stratigraphical ordering of the ages, thereby resulting in one or several large age ranges. Bayesian age modeling is advantageous over the traditional method in several aspects. First, it can provide precise age estimates by applying some constraints known <italic>a priori</italic>. Second, it may provide a timing of an archaeological feature or a geological event that is unable to be dated directly. Although several Bayesian age modeling frameworks have been developed, inexperienced users may need not only a more user-friendly environment for data entry and definition of their project-specific problem, but also a powerful post-processing tool for analyzing and visualizing the results. Here a hierarchical Bayesian model with a minimum level of structural complexity is presented. It provides users with a flexible and powerful framework to incorporate radiocarbon ages into a sequence along a one-dimensional continuum so that it best reveals their temporal order, thereby yielding a more precise timing. The accompanying Matlab software package not only complements the existing MatCal package designed to calibrate radiocarbon ages individually, but also serves as an alternative to the online tools of Bayesian radiocarbon age modeling such as OxCal and BCal.</p> </abstract>


Author(s):  
Derk Pereboom

This article explores Immanuel Kant’s transcendental argument in philosophy. According to Kant, a transcendental argument begins with a compelling first premise about our thought, experience, knowledge, or practice, and then reasons to a conclusion that is a substantive and unobvious presupposition and necessary condition of the truth of this premise, or as he sometimes puts it, of the possibility of this premise’s being true. Transcendental arguments are typically directed against skepticism of some kind. For example, Kant’s Transcendental Deduction targets Humean skepticism about the applicability of a priori metaphysical concepts, and his Refutation of Idealism takes aim at skepticism about an external world. The article first considers the nature of transcendental arguments before analysing a number of specific transcendental arguments, including Kant’s Transcendental Deduction and Refutation of Idealism. It also discusses contemporary arguments, such as those forwarded by P. F. Strawson and and Christine Korsgaard, together with their problems and prospects.


Author(s):  
D. E. Luzzi ◽  
L. D. Marks ◽  
M. I. Buckett

As the HREM becomes increasingly used for the study of dynamic localized phenomena, the development of techniques to recover the desired information from a real image is important. Often, the important features are not strongly scattering in comparison to the matrix material in addition to being masked by statistical and amorphous noise. The desired information will usually involve the accurate knowledge of the position and intensity of the contrast. In order to decipher the desired information from a complex image, cross-correlation (xcf) techniques can be utilized. Unlike other image processing methods which rely on data massaging (e.g. high/low pass filtering or Fourier filtering), the cross-correlation method is a rigorous data reduction technique with no a priori assumptions.We have examined basic cross-correlation procedures using images of discrete gaussian peaks and have developed an iterative procedure to greatly enhance the capabilities of these techniques when the contrast from the peaks overlap.


Author(s):  
H.S. von Harrach ◽  
D.E. Jesson ◽  
S.J. Pennycook

Phase contrast TEM has been the leading technique for high resolution imaging of materials for many years, whilst STEM has been the principal method for high-resolution microanalysis. However, it was demonstrated many years ago that low angle dark-field STEM imaging is a priori capable of almost 50% higher point resolution than coherent bright-field imaging (i.e. phase contrast TEM or STEM). This advantage was not exploited until Pennycook developed the high-angle annular dark-field (ADF) technique which can provide an incoherent image showing both high image resolution and atomic number contrast.This paper describes the design and first results of a 300kV field-emission STEM (VG Microscopes HB603U) which has improved ADF STEM image resolution towards the 1 angstrom target. The instrument uses a cold field-emission gun, generating a 300 kV beam of up to 1 μA from an 11-stage accelerator. The beam is focussed on to the specimen by two condensers and a condenser-objective lens with a spherical aberration coefficient of 1.0 mm.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 878-892
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Napoli ◽  
Linda D. Vallino

Purpose The 2 most commonly used operations to treat velopharyngeal inadequacy (VPI) are superiorly based pharyngeal flap and sphincter pharyngoplasty, both of which may result in hyponasal speech and airway obstruction. The purpose of this article is to (a) describe the bilateral buccal flap revision palatoplasty (BBFRP) as an alternative technique to manage VPI while minimizing these risks and (b) conduct a systematic review of the evidence of BBFRP on speech and other clinical outcomes. A report comparing the speech of a child with hypernasality before and after BBFRP is presented. Method A review of databases was conducted for studies of buccal flaps to treat VPI. Using the principles of a systematic review, the articles were read, and data were abstracted for study characteristics that were developed a priori. With respect to the case report, speech and instrumental data from a child with repaired cleft lip and palate and hypernasal speech were collected and analyzed before and after surgery. Results Eight articles were included in the analysis. The results were positive, and the evidence is in favor of BBFRP in improving velopharyngeal function, while minimizing the risk of hyponasal speech and obstructive sleep apnea. Before surgery, the child's speech was characterized by moderate hypernasality, and after surgery, it was judged to be within normal limits. Conclusion Based on clinical experience and results from the systematic review, there is sufficient evidence that the buccal flap is effective in improving resonance and minimizing obstructive sleep apnea. We recommend BBFRP as another approach in selected patients to manage VPI. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9919352


Addiction ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 92 (12) ◽  
pp. 1671-1698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Project Match Research Group
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  

Diagnostica ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Troche ◽  
Beatrice Rammstedt ◽  
Thomas Rammsayer
Keyword(s):  

Zusammenfassung. Der zunehmende Einsatz computergestützter diagnostischer Verfahren führt zwangsläufig zur Frage nach der Äquivalenz zwischen konventionellen Papier-Bleistift-Versionen und entsprechenden Computertranspositionen. Zur Überprüfung der Äquivalenz zwischen der computergestützten Version des Leistungsprüfsystems (LPS) im Hogrefe Testsystem und der Papier-Bleistift-Version wurden 131 Versuchspersonen mit beiden Verfahren getestet. Heterogene Ergebnisse zwischen der Papier-Bleistift- und der Computerversion belegen, dass nicht a priori von der Äquivalenz beider Versionen ausgegangen werden kann, und weisen nachdrücklich auf die Notwendigkeit systematischer Äquivalenzprüfungen hin. Eine an Hand einer zweiten Stichprobe von 40 Testpersonen durchgeführte Überprüfung der Retest-Reliabilität der computergestützten Version des LPS ergab für ein Retest-Intervall von zwei Wochen Reliabilitätskoeffizienten zwischen rtt = 0.55 und rtt = 0.94. In der Diskussion werden mögliche Gründe für die Nicht-Äquivalenz der beiden LPS-Versionen identifiziert.


Author(s):  
Mariëlle Stel ◽  
Rick B. van Baaren ◽  
Jim Blascovich ◽  
Eric van Dijk ◽  
Cade McCall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  

Mimicry and prosocial feelings are generally thought to be positively related. However, the conditions under which mimicry and liking are related largely remain unspecified. We advance this specification by examining the relationship between mimicry and liking more thoroughly. In two experiments, we manipulated an individual’s a priori liking for another and investigated whether it influenced mimicry of that person. Our experiments demonstrate that in the presence of a reason to like a target, automatic mimicry is increased. However, mimicry did not decrease when disliking a target. These studies provide further evidence of a link between mimicry and liking and extend previous research by showing that a certain level of mimicry even occurs when mimicry behavior is inconsistent with one’s goals or motivations.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document