A Wolff in Kant’s Clothing: Christian Wolff’s Influence on Kant’s Accounts of Consciousness, Self‐Consciousness, and Psychology
Corey W. Dyck
Philosophy Compass 2011 DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2010.00370.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Kant's philosophy of mind, particularly on consciousness, self-consciousness, and psychology, is deeply shaped by Christian Wolff's philosophy, and that recognizing this influence helps distinguish Kant's inherited ideas from his genuine innovations. |
Abstract
Abstract In attempts to come to grips with Kant’s thought, the influence of the philosophy of Christian Wolff (1679–1754) is often neglected. In this paper, I consider three topics related to Kant’s philosophy of mind, broadly construed, where Wolff’s influence is particularly visible, namely, consciousness, self‐consciousness, and the doctrine of the soul or psychology. I argue that within this context we can better understand Kant’s particular arguments and positions, and gain a more accurate sense of which aspects of Kant’s accounts derive from the antecedent traditions and which constitute genuine philosophical innovations.