The Goal of Transcendental Arguments

Abstract

Abstract The earliest use of the phrase ‘transcendental argument’ that I am familiar with is by J. L. Austin in a I939 Joint Session symposium on ‘Are There A Priori Concepts?’ (I96I: I-22).I As far as I know, Kant never used the corresponding German expression, although he spoke of many different things as ‘transcendental’, including ‘transcendental philosophy’. I have not seen the expression ‘transcendental argument’ used anywhere in the nineteenth century, or in this century before Austin. I cannot say I have searched.