Philosophers

I find that Kant's Critique of Pure Reason is as much a critique of empiricism as it is rationalism. Why then call it the critique of "pure reason" as if the focus of the critique is purely about the rationalist's favored tool of inquiry?

Comments

I agree that Kant's Critique of Pure Reason is as much a critique of empiricism as it is of rationalism. But the title still makes sense if you understand two things about it. First, the word "Critique" here means not merely criticism but, more broadly, critical examination. The book draws limits to reason in some respects but also vindicates our reason in others. Second, the word "of" here means not only that reason is the object of critical examination, but also that reason is conducting this critical examination. So, in a nutshell, Kant promises in his title a critical self-examination of reason: an examination undertaken by reason of what reason can and cannot do.

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