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Three Rival Versions of Kantian Constructivism

  • Ernesto V. Garcia

    Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 28. September 2022
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Abstract

In order to make headway on the debate about whether Kant was a constructivist, nonconstructivist, or instead defends a hybrid view that somehow entirely sidesteps these categories, I attempt to clarify the terms of the debate more carefully than is usually done. First, I discuss the overall relationship between realism and constructivism. Second, I identify four main features of Kantian constructivism in general. Third, I examine three rival versions of metanormative Kantian constructivism, what I’ll call axiological, constitutivist, and rationalist constructivist. I argue that Kant is best seen as a rationalist constructivist. I conclude by arguing that although it’s a constructivist view, this reading avoids the main pitfalls of traditional Kantian constructivism. In doing so, it helps us to achieve a satisfying rapprochement between constructivist and non-constructivist (that is, so-called ‘realist’) readings of Kant.

About the author

Dr. Ernesto V. Garcia

Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

I’ve benefited greatly from audience comments on earlier versions of this paper, which was presented at the Midwest NAKS regional conference and Notre Dame. In particular, I wish to thank Karl Ameriks, Robert Audi, Nick Vallone, and two anonymous journal referees, for their invaluable feedback on the main ideas in this paper.

References

All translations are quoted from The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Immanuel Kant (1996) and the quotation rules followed are those established by the Akademie Ausgabe. Kant, Immanuel (1900 ff): Gesammelte Schriften. Hrsg.: Bd. 1 – 22 Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Bd. 23 Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, ab Bd. 24 Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen. Berlin.

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Published Online: 2022-09-28

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