Analytic reasoning

Kant's Usage

In the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, analytic reasoning represents judgments made upon statements that are based on the virtue of the statement's own content. No particular experience, beyond an understanding of the meanings of words used, is necessary for analytic reasoning.[1]

For example, "John is a bachelor." is a given true statement. Through analytic reasoning, one can make the judgment that John is unmarried. One knows this to be true since the state of being unmarried is implied in the word bachelor; no particular experience of John is necessary to make this judgement.

To suggest that John is married—given that he is a bachelor—would be self-contradictory.

Compare analytic reasoning with synthetic reasoning.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ See Stephen Palmquist, "Knowledge and Experience - An Examination of the Four Reflective 'Perspectives' in Kant's Critical Philosophy", Kant-Studien 78:2 (1987), pp.170-200; revised and reprinted as Chapter IV of Kant's System of Perspectives (Lanham: University Press of America, 1993).
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