Apperception and Dark Representations (A. Brook)

Conférence | Talk

Andrew Brook

(Carleton University)

Apperception and Dark Representations

Source : Wikipedia

I will explore two puzzles about Kant’s various treatments of apperception in the two editions of CPR and what is usually called in English obscure representations [Dunkeler Vorstellungen]. Dunkeler Vorstellungen are representations “of which one is not conscious” (25:480). (‘Dark’, the literal meaning of ‘Dunkel’, would be a better translation than ‘obscure’ – the representations in question are more than obscure; we are not conscious of them at all.) The two puzzles: 1. Given that Kant was fully aware that we have representations of which we are not conscious, why did he tie apperception to conscious representations exclusively? 2. Given that Kant discusses dark representations about a dozen times in his popular works, why did he hardly mention them in his serious philosophical/psychological works? The two puzzles are linked.

Friday, October 16th, 2015

11:30pm

Carleton University

Loeb Building

Room B146