antinomy

antinomy
antinomic /an'ti nom"ik/, antinomical, adj.
/an tin"euh mee/, n., pl. antinomies.
1. opposition between one law, principle, rule, etc., and another.
2. Philos. a contradiction between two statements, both apparently obtained by correct reasoning.
[1585-95; < L antinomia < Gk antinomía a contradiction between laws. See ANTI-, -NOMY]

* * *

      in philosophy, contradiction, real or apparent, between two principles or conclusions, both of which seem equally justified; it is nearly synonymous with the term paradox. Immanuel Kant (Kant, Immanuel), the father of critical philosophy, in order to show the inadequacy of pure reason in the field of metaphysics, employed the word antinomies in elaborating his doctrine that pure reason generates contradictions in seeking to grasp the unconditioned. He offered alleged proofs of the two propositions that the universe had a beginning and is of finite extent (the thesis) and also of a contrary proposition (the antithesis). Similarly, he offered proofs both for and against the three propositions: (1) that every complex substance consists of simple parts; (2) that not every phenomenon has a sufficient “natural” cause (i.e., that there is freedom in the universe); and (3) that there exists a necessary being, either within or outside the universe. Kant used the first two antinomies to infer that space and time constitute a framework imposed, in a sense, by the mind. Kant's “Copernican Revolution” was that things revolve around the knower, rather than the knower around things. He resolved the four antinomies by drawing a distinction between phenomena (things as they are known or experienced by the senses) and noumena (things in themselves; see noumenon). Kant insisted that we can never know the noumena, for we can never get beyond phenomena.

      In the 20th century more specific suggestions for resolving the antinomies arose. Because the philosophical significance of these possible resolutions continues to be debated, however, the force of Kant's case against pure reason is yet to be assessed.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Antinomy — An*tin o*my (?; 277), n.; pl. {Antinomies}. [L. antinomia, Gr. ?; ? against + ? law.] 1. Opposition of one law or rule to another law or rule. [1913 Webster] Different commentators have deduced from it the very opposite doctrines. In some… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • antinomy — index inconsistency, opposition, paradox Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 antinomy …   Law dictionary

  • antinomy — (n.) 1590s, contradiction in the laws, from L. antinomia, from Gk. antinomia ambiguity in the law, from anti against (see ANTI (Cf. anti )) + nomos law (see NUMISMATICS (Cf. numismatics)). As a term in logic, from 1802 (Kant) …   Etymology dictionary

  • antinomy — *paradox, anomaly Analogous words: opposite, contradictory, contrary, antithesis (see under OPPOSITE adj): contradiction, denial (see corresponding verbs at DENY): conflict, variance, *discord …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • antinomy — ► NOUN (pl. antinomies) ▪ a paradox …   English terms dictionary

  • antinomy — [an tin′ə mē] n. pl. antinomies [L antinomia < Gr antinomia: see ANTI & NOMY] 1. the opposition of one law, regulation, etc. to another 2. a contradiction or inconsistency between two apparently reasonable principles or laws, or between… …   English World dictionary

  • Antinomy — Antinomia redirects here. For the brachiopod genus, see Antinomia (brachiopod).Antinomy (Greek αντι , against, plus νομος, law) literally means the mutual incompatibility, real or apparent, of two laws. It is a term used in logic and epistemology …   Wikipedia

  • antinomy — A paradox . In Kant s first Critique the antinomies of pure reason show that contradictory conclusions about the world as a whole can be drawn with equal propriety. Each antinomy has a thesis and a contradictory antithesis. The first antinomy has …   Philosophy dictionary

  • antinomy — noun (plural mies) Etymology: German Antinomie, from Latin antinomia conflict of laws, from Greek, from anti + nomos law more at nimble Date: 1592 1. a contradiction between two apparently equally valid principles or between inferences cor …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • antinomy — noun /ænˈtɪnəmi/ An apparent contradiction between valid conclusions; a paradox Syn: paradox …   Wiktionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”