The Mind-Body Problem in the Genesis of Kant’s Critical Philosophy

Abstract

one. There have been at least ten different theses put forward on this matter. In this paper, we aim to provide a detailed examination of one of these theses, specifically Klaus Reich's proposal that the mind-body problem was one motivator. We approach this by first outlining the fundamental premises underlying studies of Kant's critical turn and explaining our chosen methodology, a developmental account (Entwiklungsgeschichte). Next, we offer a brief contextualization of the mind-body problem, tracing its origins to Descartes’ metaphysical dualism. We describe the set of premises that give rise to this problem and introduce the theories that emerged in early 18th-century German philosophy as attempts to address it, namely, pre-established harmony and physical influx. Finally, we delve into Kant's pre-critical works to demonstrate how two major premises connected to the mind-body problem develop in these earlier writings, ultimately leading to their resolution in Kant's critical turn, as evident in the Inaugural Dissertation of 1770: dualism and the spatiality of the soul.