Kant's System of Perspectives: An Architectonic Interpretation of the Critical Philosophy [Hardcover]

Stephen R. Palmquist (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0819189278 | ISBN-13: 978-0819189271 | Publication Date: February 1993

Here, Stephen R. Palmquist attempts to revolutionise Kant scholarship by demonstrating the high degree of systematic coherence and consistency in Kant's entire philosophical project. By using the "principle of perspective" as a technical tool, Palmquist reveals the theories in Kant's critical works to be the architectonic elaboration of a single idea. Palmquist asserts that Kant's system cannot be properly interpeted without understanding its essentially constructive, theocentric orientation and its systematic character. Thus, the unity which the author discusses replaces the typical interpretation of Kant's theology and philosophy of religion as an austere, deistic agnosticism and moral reductionism with a richer, more practical framework for theological thinking.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 490 pages
• Publisher: Univ Pr of Amer (February 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819189278
• ISBN-13: 978-0819189271
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,559,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intelligible overview of the system implicit in Kant's obscure writings, August 13, 2007

By 

Burgess Laughlin "author of The Aristotle Adv... (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kant's System of Perspectives: An Architectonic Interpretation of the Critical Philosophy (Hardcover)

Palmquist is the first commentator on Kant who makes sense. The system of perspectives that is implicit throughout Kant's writings becomes explicit -- even diagrammed -- in Palmquist's interpretation.

*Kant's System of Perspectives* is the first volume of a planned -- but, alas, long delayed -- four-volume series. *KSP* provides an overview of Kant's whole philosophical system.

The book's detailed table of contents, glossary, and full index are useful aids to the serious reader.

Palmquist is clearly a teacher. He explains everything. He provides plenty of cross-references. He documents his assertions, citing both other modern scholars and Kant's own writings, especially Critique of Pure Reason. Palmquist is also forthright in saying that his presentation of Kant's system is an interpretation -- which means that Palmquist had to fill in gaps for Kant's notorious vagueries and missing elements. But overall, it is indeed Kant's system of perspectives that emerges. The evidence for various elements of the system range from certain to merely plausible -- which is understandable given Kant's chaotic and uneven presentation of his own philosophy.

If you are a serious student of Kant -- like him or not -- Palmquist's KSP is very helpful, even if you end up disagreeing with parts of the interpretation.