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Time is not an empirical concept. For neither co-existence nor succession would be perceived by us, if the representation of time did not exist as a foundation a priori.
Immanuel Kant
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Time is a concept that our mind constructs rather than something that exists independently.

In this quote, Immanuel Kant emphasizes that our understanding of time is not derived from experience but instead is a fundamental concept that shapes our perception of reality. He argues that without an inherent representation of time in our minds, we would not be able to make sense of the succession of events or their coexistence, asserting the role of a priori knowledge in our comprehension of temporal phenomena.

Themes

TimePerceptionA PrioriPhilosophyKant

In practice

Example use cases

In a philosophical discussion about how we perceive reality.

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I shall never forget my mother, for it was she who planted and nurtured the first seeds of good within me. She opened my heart to the lasting impressions of nature; she awakened my understanding and extended my horizon and her percepts exerted an everlasting influence upon the course of my life.
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Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the oftener and more steadily we reflect on them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.
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