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About this quote

What does it mean?
Kant claims that concepts need sensory input to have meaning and sensory input needs concepts to be understood.
In plain terms
Thoughts need experience to be useful and experience needs thoughts to be clear.
What can you take from it?
Combine concepts with experience for knowledge.

Where it applies

  • philosophical inquiry
  • learning
  • analysis

Putting it to work

  • connect theory to practice
  • ground ideas in reality
  • reflect on experience

Questions to consider

  • How do you combine theory and practice?
  • Can you think without experience?

Another view

Some argue pure reason can work without sensory input.

More from Immanuel Kant

  1. The light dove, cleaving the air in her free flight, and feeling its resistance, might imagine that its flight would be still easier in empty space. (B 8)

    Permalink to quote #23
  2. A plant, an animal, the regular order of nature-probably also the disposition of the whole universe-give manifest evidence that they are possible only by means…

    Permalink to quote #25
  3. There can be no doubt that all our knowledge begins with experience. (B 1)

    Permalink to quote #22

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