Format:
Online-Ressource
ISSN:
1613-1134
Content:
Abstract: It is commonly assumed that the expression “an sich selbst” (“in itself”) in Kant combines with terms to form complex nouns such as “thing in itself” and “end in itself.” I argue that the basic use of “an sich selbst” in Kant’s German is as a sentence adverb, which has the role of modifying subject-predicate combinations, rather than either subject or predicate on their own. Expressions of the form “S is P an sich selbst” mean roughly that S is P ‘in its own right’ or without some further ‘condition’. Accordingly, “an sich selbst” should not be treated as forming complex nouns. This analysis has significant consequences for the interpretation of “thing in itself” in particular, for it implies that the latter is not a complete nominal expression. Instead, one must treat ‘an sich selbst’ as expressing how some S is a ‘thing’, looking to the wider sentential context. I conclude with a brief account of the new significance granted to the concept of a ‘thing’ (Ding) according to the present interpretation.
In:
volume:114
In:
number:2
In:
year:2023
In:
pages:207-246
In:
extent:40
In:
Kant-Studien, Berlin : de Gruyter, 1896-, 114, Heft 2 (2023), 207-246 (gesamt 40), 1613-1134
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1515/kant-2023-2015
URN:
urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023060714150024561675
URL:
https://doi.org/10.1515/kant-2023-2015
URL:
https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023060714150024561675
URL:
https://d-nb.info/1292272929/34
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