Abstract

A survey of the literature of philosophy reveals that the distinction between the conceivable and the inconceivable is the ground of many of the more characteristic and interesting theses of philosophy. To cite a few famous cases, it is used variously: by Immanuel Kant, as a basis for determining the limits of human knowledge; by George Berkeley, as a ground for arguing for the nonexistence of material substance; and by René Descartes as a proof for his own existence. This paper is written on the assumption that a distinction which has been so fruitful and useful in the history of philosophy is worthy of examination for its own sake, and in the hope that such an examination might prepare a way through the present relative impasse in substantive metaphysics and philosophical cosmology. What is being attempted is a propaedeutic to future metaphysics, but one which will be justified only if future metaphysics is forthcoming. This paper is an attempt to survey the resources which the human mind possesses within itself for achieving a unified view of reality. As a means I make use of insights from many areas of philosophy, both traditional and analytic. But the end is frankly speculative.