Kant's synthesis

Question 1

What did Kant say about empiricism and rationalism?

Answer 1

That one without the other is useless ‘Thoughts without content are empty, intuitions without concepts are blind’.

Question 2

Explain ‘thoughts without content are empty’

Answer 2

This refers to rationalism; A thought on a subject without experience to back it up is meaningless. I can think about how to improve my football skills but i would need to experience football to do so.

Question 3

Explain ‘Intuitions without concepts are blind’

Answer 3

Refers to empricism; if you experience something but cannot expand on it with thought then it is meaningless.

Question 4

What is Kant basically saying?

Answer 4

To learn effectively we need to combine both empiricism and rationalism so that we may expand on experience with thought and give thought meaning with experience.