Noumenon: Things in themselves

The concept of "things in themselves" (German: "Dinge an sich") is a philosophical term introduced by Immanuel Kant in his Critique of Pure Reason. According to Kant, things in themselves refer to objects as they exist independently of our perception and understanding.

Kant argues that we cannot know things in themselves directly, because our knowledge is limited to the sphere of phenomena. Phenomena are objects as they appear to us, that is, as they are perceived and understood by our minds. Things in themselves, on the other hand, are objects as they exist in themselves, independently of our perception.

Kant argues that our knowledge is limited by the categories of the understanding, which are the concepts and mental structures that we use to understand the world. These categories allow us to understand phenomena, but they do not allow us to access things in themselves.

For example, when we perceive an object, we perceive it as having a shape, size, color, etc. But these properties are phenomena, that is, aspects of the object as they appear to us. We cannot know the object in itself, independently of these properties.

Kant argues that things in themselves are "noumenal," that is, they exist independently of our perception and understanding. He contrasts them with phenomena, which are objects as they appear to us.

The concept of things in themselves has important implications for the philosophy of knowledge and metaphysics. It suggests that our knowledge is limited and that we cannot know reality as it is in itself. It also has implications for the notion of truth and reality, because it suggests that truth is relative to our perception and understanding.

Here are some of the key implications of the concept of things-in-themselves:

• The limitation of knowledge: our knowledge is limited to the sphere of phenomena, and we cannot know things in themselves.
• The relativity of truth: truth is relative to our perception and understanding, not to reality itself.
• The distinction between phenomena and noumenals: phenomena are objects as they appear to us, while noumenals are objects in themselves, independent of our perception.

In summary, the concept of things-in-themselves is a philosophical concept that suggests that our knowledge is limited and that we cannot know reality as it is in itself. This has important implications for the philosophy of knowledge and metaphysics.

3236 x 2560 px / mp4 / 59 s / 121 Mo / 12 fps

1/1 édition at 100 #xtz : piece N° 16/30 : collection #noumenon

a subrealist reread based on the masterpiece by : Portrait of Mlle. Hortense Valpinçon - Edgar Degas - 1871

Original works On view at : Minneapolis Institute of Art