The pernicious problems of the scheme/content distinction
This thesis offers a solution to the problems caused by a particular sort of philosophical project â that of attempting to identify the roots of normativity; of showing what it is that allows that we have norms which can be applied to the empirical world. Transcendental idealism sets the mould for the form of such projects as I will examine. It does so, I argue, for two reasons: (1) it considers seriously the problems inherent in taking a normatively and modally bereft world to provide criteria for the application of our norms to it, and (2), after due reflection, it allows us to see that the response it offers to such problems serves only to reiterate, in a particularly clear manner, the problems it addresses. The thesis claims we should avoid the attempt signalled in (1). We can do so, I will suggest, if we can find a way to think of the world we inhabit as thoroughly modally and normatively imbued and to take these features of the world at face value â that is, if we can find a way to think of the world being as it is which does not call for a further explanation in appeals to anything anormative. For the desire to give such explanations, I argue, ineluctably leads to a reinstatement of the very problems
Harrington, Brendan
The pernicious problems of the scheme/content distinction. This thesis offers a solution to the problems caused by a particular sort of philosophical project â that of attempting to identify the roots of normativity; of showing what it is that allows that we have norms which can be applied to the empirical world. Transcendental idealism sets the mould for the form of such projects as I will examine. It does so, I argue, for two reasons: (1) it considers seriously the problems inherent in taking a normatively and modally bereft world to provide criteria for the application of our norms to it, and (2), after due reflection, it allows us to see that the response it offers to such problems serves only to reiterate, in a particularly clear manner, the problems it addresses. The thesis claims we should avoid the attempt signalled in (1). We can do so, I will suggest, if we can find a way to think of the world we inhabit as thoroughly modally and normatively imbued and to take these features of the world at face value â that is, if we can find a way to think of the world being as it is which does not call for a further explanation in appeals to anything anormative. For the desire to give such explanations, I argue, ineluctably leads to a reinstatement of the very problems
problem scheme content distinction offer_solution problem cause particular sort philosophical_project attempt_identify root normativity show allows norm apply empirical world transcendental_idealism set mould form project_examine argue reason considers seriously problem_inherent take world provide criterion application norm due reflection allow see response offer problem serf reiterate particularly clear manner problem address claim avoid attempt signal suggest_way think world inhabit thoroughly take feature world face_value way_think world call explanation appeal anything desire give explanation_argue lead problem