Abstract
The paper discusses whether a priori synthetic judgments are really possible and what their role is in metaphysics. The paper examines how Kant identifies the true nature of the a priori synthetic judgment, and its implications for logic and metaphysics.

From the Paper
"Now the proper problem of pure reason is contained in the question: How are a priori synthetic judgments possible? Upon the solution of this problem, or upon a sufficient proof that the possibility which it desires to have explained does in fact not exist at all, depends the success or failure of metaphysics. Among philosophers, David Hume came nearest to envisaging this problem, but still was very far from conceiving it with sufficient definiteness and universality. Whether a priori synthetic judgments are really possible and, if we accept this, what their role is in metaphysics, is a subject of considerable..."

Tags:philosophy, kant, predicate

Abstract
This paper discusses and compares analytic and synthetic judgment. The writer describes Kant's belief that all knowledge begins with experience, and that both experience and knowledge combine to give the reasons for why things happen. The paper draws comparisons between this idea and that of Hume, relating Hume's belief that events have explanations as to why they happen, an action brings a reaction.

From the Paper
"Kant states how the reading of David Hume changes his thoughts and how it directed his investigations in the field of speculative philosophy. Kant wanted a "Copernican Revolution" in the response to Hume. "A recognition that the appearance of the external world depends in some measure upon the position and movement of its observers" is a response called "Copernican Revolution" (Kemerling 1). Kant wanted to move beyond the rationalist but he did not agree with the empiricists either."

Tags:philosophy, analytic, judgement, rational, copernican

From the Paper
"Philosophy has always been fundamentally concerned with the nature of truth and one s knowledge of reality. Its central demand is the autonomy of the individual person, that is, thinking for oneself about life, knowledge, religion, truth and reality. However, throughout the many centuries of human existence, different philosophers have formulated distinct approaches and theories with regard to these expansive abstractions. One philosophical principle that has been fervently debated by great minds through the years is the notion of a priori knowledge . A priori knowledge is that knowledge which is acquired by the mind or reasoning alone, without any specific basis in experience (Lacey 112-113). A comprehensive analysis of the discordant views of several modern philosophers, Descartes, Leibniz, Locke, Hume and Kant, can more fully..."

Abstract
His ontological argument (a priori) and 'a posteriori demonstration of God's existence. Concept of perfection. Proofs of God's existence. Examining the reality of God. Descartes' belief in God the Giver and Creator. Free will of man as proof. Differences between existence of God & essence of God. Flaws in Descartes' reasoning.

From the Paper
"Descartes and God

More consequences for thought and action follow from the affirmation or denial of God than from answering any other basic question (Hutchins 543). It is a fact that, long before Descartes, Man often thought of himself as the supreme being of the Universe, and still obedient to, or believing in, or trusting some superhuman Being called God.

While for millennia, philosophers have debated the idea or ideas of God, Descartes states that ONE idea alone, becomes the basis for such an inference. He supplements his a priori or ontological argument with what he calls a posteriori demonstration of God s existence from the mere idea that God exists in us (Hutchins 554). God exists, Descartes writes, because He possesses every sort of perfection (and) existence is one of them "

Abstract
Transcendental idealism is founded on the concept of the a priori. Few claims in philosophical history have encouraged as wide and vigorous a debate as this one idea. The a priori nature of causality has been the most cited example, and this paper takes a view of the playing field. Not only is Kant's theory of causality explained with care, but the paper also investigates how Kant stands in reference to traditional ("dogmatic") metaphysics, notably that of Leibniz and also to his powerful contemporary, David Hume; with whom Kant had one eye on when writing "The Critique".

From the Paper
"Immanuel Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason" is largely a response to popular philosophy of the time. This is true of Leibniz (and Wolff's) "dogmatic metaphysics", but also true of the psychological approach of the British empiricists. The most resolute of these, in Kant's mind, was David Hume, and Kant's response to Hume's treatment of causality is worthy of further examination."

Tags:causality, empiricism, enlightenment, hume, idealism, kant, leibniz, metaphysics, priori, rationalism, transcendental

Abstract
The paper argues that for the 21st century and its social issues, Mill is more applicable than Kant. The paper explains that this is because Mill's philosophy does not depend on the a priori to interpret experience and fit it to the actual outside world. The paper discusses how Mill's simpler though not necessarily truer explanation allows for experience, rather than innate categories to match the individual ability to understand the world with the world itself, and because he is not limited with Kantian categories, finds it easier to change the world.

Tags:mill, kant, experience

Abstract
The paper discusses how Kant had to invent the category of the synthetic a priori in order that analytical reasoning could transcend the simple subject-object relationship of the pure syllogism. The paper explains that the synthesis of foreign predicates into this relationship gave occasion for an a priori newly empowered to authenticate relations between subjects and new predicates not contained in the subject, that is to say 'foreign' predicates.

Tags:kant, synthetic a priori, intuition

Abstract
Foundationalism maintains that basic statements are justified non inferentially. In recent years, though, there have been some criticisms directed at this view and alternatives developed to this view that other philosophers consider superior to such non inferential approaches. This paper provides a defense of foundationalism against Laurence BonJour's criticism in "A Critique of Foundationalism" and a look at what others have to say about these issues. A summary of the research and salient findings are provided in the conclusion.

Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Definition of Foundationalism
BonJour's Argument Against Foundationalism
Challenges to BonJour's Argument
Conclusion

From the Paper
" Laurence BonJour (1985) maintains that there is a serious problem with any foundationalist account of knowledge. As BonJour argues, a basic constraint on any standards of justification for empirical knowledge is that there is a good reason for thinking that those standards lead to truth. So if basic beliefs are to provide a foundation for knowledge for the moderate foundationalist, then whatever the criterion for being properly basic, it must provide a good reason for supposing that basic beliefs are true. Further, such a criterion must provide grounds for the person who holds a basic belief to suppose that it is true."

Tags:Descartes, a, priori, Meditations

Abstract
This paper looks at Millet's painting, which is more than the simple, decorative landscape it may appear to be on first examination. It shows that it is a work by an artist whose painting of rural and peasant scenes had made him successful.

From the Paper
"The rough, contorted path, passing through a narrow gateway to the haven of the Priory which links earth to heaven can be seen as a representation of the path of the soul through earthly labors to ultimate salvation; it is also a powerful reminder of the earthy quality of ordinary peoples' lives in rural France, with the mud and stones standing for the material conditions of their lives in which they were trapped. There is thus a social criticism present in this work as well as a spiritual message. The domination of earth over sky in terms of the area of the painting it occupies would seem to underline this aspect of the painting. However the placing of the Priory and the relative brightness of the sky, the sense of space conveyed by the sea and sky in the upper portion of the painting, contrasting so sharply with the quite congested an claustrophobic atmosphere of the earthy lower portion, suggests strongly the presence of salvation and hope. In that sense the Priory stands for the enduring qualities of the human soul and its unquenchable potential for salvation. From bottom to top, the picture goes from dark to light, and from earth to heaven. It is, in the final analysis, a landscape of hope."

Tags:earth, rural, painting, landscape

Abstract
This marketing research study identifies appropriate target markets for future attempts to increase the visibility of the Society, by identifying specific categories of segmentation. Following careful review of secondary data sources obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, careful "a priori" analysis is used to group residents into various segments. The paper claims that the market segments identified within it will result in a more efficient use of marketing resources for the Cumberland County SPCA. The paper concludes by recommending further research to determine the specific incorporation of these identified segments into a particular marketing strategy.

From the Paper
"The Cumberland County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) faces a great challenge in attempting to increase its visibility in the County. Currently, the SPCA does not have a viable or strong public presence. Linda Catalano, the Executive Director of the Cumberland County SPCA feels that the Society is "invisible", and that many residents are unaware of the work of the SPCA."

Tags:market, research, categories, segmentation, segment, secondary, data, sources, a priori, resources