Kant's Empirical Psychology

This is the first English-language book to examine Kant's empirical psychology, applying it throughout Kant's philosophy and to contemporary philosophical issues.

Patrick R. Frierson (Author)

9781107032651, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 July 2014

288 pages, 5 b/w illus.
23.5 x 16 x 2 cm, 0.56 kg

'With this lucid explanation and analysis of Kant's empirical psychology, Patrick R. Frierson makes a major contribution to Kant scholarship. Up till now, the general lack of familiarity with this aspect of Kant's philosophy has led many to conflate his moral theory and his empirical psychology, which in turn has produced many misguided objections and caricatures. Frierson's clear and balanced discussion enables readers to gain a deeper understanding of Kant's empirical account of human cognition and action, and to situate it properly in its broader philosophical context.' Pauline Kleingeld, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands

Throughout his life, Kant was concerned with questions about empirical psychology. He aimed to develop an empirical account of human beings, and his lectures and writings on the topic are recognizable today as properly 'psychological' treatments of human thought and behavior. In this book Patrick R. Frierson uses close analysis of relevant texts, including unpublished lectures and notes, to study Kant's account. He shows in detail how Kant explains human action, choice, and thought in empirical terms, and how a better understanding of Kant's psychology can shed light on major concepts in his philosophy, including the moral law, moral responsibility, weakness of will, and cognitive error. Frierson also applies Kant's accounts of mental illness to contemporary philosophical issues. His book will interest students and scholars of Kant, the history of psychology, philosophy of psychology, and philosophy of action.

1. Introduction: the nature and possibility of empirical psychology
2. Kant's empirical account of human action
3. Kant's empirical account of human cognition
4. Kant's empirical account of moral motivation: respect for the moral law
5. Kant's empirical markers for moral responsibility
6. Defects of cognition: prejudice and mental disorder
7. Defects of volition: affects, passions, and weakness of will
8. Conclusion
Appendix: charts and tables describing Kant's empirical psychology.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX], Western philosophy: c 1600 to c 1900 [HPCD]