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A Critique of Langton on Kantian Substance

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Rae Langton's interpretation of the distinction between things in themselves and phenomena solves many traditional problems at the expense of Kant's discussion of the categories and time, which she thinks are irrelevant to explaining the problem of affection. Langton applies the concept "substance" in a transcendentally real manner to things in themselves, in order to argue that we are ignorant of the latter because they are causally inert intrinsic properties. In doing so, she misdiagnoses the source of Humility, which can be properly understood by the fact that things in themselves are not objects of experience. Langton misapplies the concept of substance to things in themselves, and says that substance of the First Analogy is phaenomenon substantiatum. I argue that substance is a concept which should only be applied to matter in order to unite perceptions in an objective time order.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Philosophy
Department dc:contributor.department
Philosophy
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2009

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Oldham, Heather Renee
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Patton, Lydia K.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Epstein, Brian
  • Ott, Walter R.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-05222009-170125
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33125

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Oldham, Heather Renee. A Critique of Langton on Kantian Substance. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/33125