Man gets knowledge from integrating. By perception, he starts with observing the existents all around him. He keeps them in mental grasp by conceptualizing i.e. by omitting the particular measurements of existents and grasping their common denominators. This process of integrating is how man acquires knowledge of and control over reality.
Kant also starts with existents and perception and forms an exceedingly complex conceptual chain supposedly applied to grasp and integrate the existents. He concludes that:
1. The existents he "grasps" are not those of true reality, i.e. of the noumenal world.
2. His observation of existents is from his sensing faculties that are neither omniscient nor omnipotent. Therefore, his observation is in principle distorted and, even if it was not, is not observation of true reality, i.e.the noumenal world.
3. His conceptual process and faculty are finite, neither omniscient nor omnipotent, and therefore could not mentally grasp the existents around him, even if they did represent true reality, ie the noumenal world. Therefore, his conceptual faculty is useless.
4. Therefore, in principle, man cannot grasp true reality.
Kant forms this conclusion about an unknowable reality by starting with reality and asserting he "knows" points #1 through #4 above. He accepts and uses the human process to grasp reality to form his conclusion that man in principle cannot grasp reality.
Norman E. Hill
NoraLyn Ltd.
Books By Hills
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