Saturday, June 13, 2009

The Kantian Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand said in ITOE p. 255 -
You know the best example I could give—perhaps this will help. If you brought a dog or a cat into this room, it would be aware of everything that we see here. It would also see the room, the objects, and the people. What it would never be able to grasp is, "I am conscious of this room," although that fact is inherent in its perception.

Then what is the difference between that idea and Kant's idea of apperception?

But all empirical consciousness has a necessary relation to a transcendental consciousness which precedes all special experience, namely, the consciousness of myself as original apperception. It is therefore absolutely necessary that in my knowledge all consciousness should belong to a single consciousness, that of myself. CPR A118.

No comments: