How Does Kant Conceive of Self-Consciousness?

Abstract

Abstract This chapter focuses on the question of how to best understand Kant’s conception of self-consciousness. Is it something that exists or is it a conceptual construction? If there is an existing Self, what can we say about it? If it is a conceptual construct, what kind of construct is it? The first section sketches out three interpretations of Kant’s concept of self-consciousness. In the second section it is argued that self-consciousness is best understood to involve a consciousness of a real, existing thing as opposed to a consciousness of a merely intentional object or “thought-thing.” This idea is further developed and discussed in the third and fourth sections. These sections are particularly concerned with the questions of how Kant can claim this, even though—by Kant’s own standards—this cannot be a case of knowledge or cognition.