51

important question and it applies all the way from "F equals
A" to "You can't trust an Irishman." All of those series
of statements in between that make positive statements about
test samples that are not universally exposed to tests.
Kant was not strictly a metaphysician. A critical philosopher
he cagily called himself. He made this statement, and he
answered it in this way: "Yes, apiori syntheic judgements
are possible because of the power and unique capabilities
of the human mind." Hume, he might say, thinks the mind
categorizes bits, like some sort of sophisticated computer.
The mind experiences, says Kant, more than bits. It
experiences patterns, connections and it is equipped with
universal concept forms which projected outward tie together
discreet bits into patterns, rules, universal laws, unities,
wholes, etc. Kant makes this statement, not based on mysticism
or anamism or religion or hope or some spark of life, but
by critical reason he believes that it is clear that the
power and unique capabilities of the human mind are able
to bridge this gap of empiricism that bothers Hume and a
host of others.
What did Kant's theories extrapolate to when run all
the way out? Some foolishness, as you will see in the moral
section of this lecture, some practicality, but brilliance
across the board. I think it can be said that the history
of philosophy and science was changed by this little absent-

7