Kant's Theory of Schematism

The thesis focuses on a chapter from Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, "The Schematism of the Pure Concepts of the Understanding". Kant assumes two independent sources of knowledge, understanding and intuition. These sources need to be overcome, because of their heterogeneity. Schematism is closely related to "The Deduction of the Pure Concepts of the Understanding". That is why the analysis of schemata is preceded by the analysis of this chapter. It shows a more detailed description of a role of intuition with respect to understanding. Firstly, the validity of the categories regarding whatever form of intuition is proved. Secondly, the proof of the validity of the categories regarding specific forms of time and space follows. The chapter on schematism deals with the specific methods by means of which the categories relate to intuition. Kant introduces transcendental schemata bridging the heterogeneity of understanding and intuition. The relation between category and schema is understood as one of analogy. The categories are rules of discursive type of unity of any kind of intuition, whereas schemata are determined as rules of perceptive unity of intuition. Intuition is brought under unity of apperception by means of schemata of imagination. Inseparable part of the thesis is the schematism of..