Kant s Philosophy of Physical Science

The papers in this volume are offered in celebration of the 200th anni versary of the pub 1 i cat i on of Inmanue 1 Kant's The MetaphysicaL Foundations of NatupaL Science. All of the es says (including the Introduction) save two were written espe ci ally for thi s volume. Gernot Bohme' s paper is an amended and enlarged version of one originally read in the series of lectures and colloquia in philosophy of science offered by Boston University. My own paper is a revised and enlarged version (with an appendix containing completely new material) of one read at the biennial meeting of the Philosophy of Sci ence Association held in Chicago in 1984. Why is it important to devote this attention to Kant's last published work in the philosophy of physics? The excellent essays in the volume will answer the question. I will provide some schematic com ments designed to provide an image leading from the general question to its very specific answers. Kant is best known for hi s monumental Croitique of Pure Reason and for his writings in ethical theory. His "critical" philosophy requires an initial sharp division of knowledge into its theoretical and practical parts. Moral perfection of attempts to act out of duty is the aim of practical reason. The aim of theoretical reason is to know the truth about ma terial and spiritual nature.

Inhalt
Introduction: Kant's Quest for a Method for Metaphysics.- I The Metaphysical Grounding of Newtonian Natural Philosophy.- The Metaphysical Foundations of Newtonian Science.- Kant's Two Grand Hypotheses.- Filled with Wonder: Kant's Cosmological Essay, the Universal Natural History and Theory of the Heavens.- II The Structure of Scientific Methodology.- Kant's 'Special Metaphysics' and The Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science.- The Methodological Structure of Kant's Metaphysics of Science.- Projecting the Order of Nature.- III The Status of Physical Laws and of Theoretical Entities.- Kant on the A Priori and Material Necessity.- Kant's Methodology: Progress Beyond Newton?.- Kant on Realism and Methodology.- IV A Thesis About Kant's Theory of Knowledge.- Kant's Epistemology as a Theory of Alienated Knowledge.- Notes on the Authors.