Abstract

Kant is not ordinarily included in the roll-call of nominalists. However, it is rather startling to put together the analysis of possible individuals that is to be found in Kant, and to compare this with the position on the matter that Nelson Goodman developed. We can reach the issues a bit faster by starting with Goodman’s view. In this way we shall approach Kant as he suggested that we should approach nature, “not … in the character of a pupil who listens to everything that the teacher chooses to say, but of an appointed judge who compels the witness to answer questions which he has himself formulated.”. Goodman will help us formulate the questions.