The Proof of the Principle of Sufficient Reason

The Proof of the Principle of Sufficient Reason: Wolff, Crusius and the Early Kant on the Search for a Foundation of Metaphysics

• Author	Adriano Perin
  Rights	© 2015 Aletheia - Associação Científica e Cultural | © 2015 Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia
  Volume	71
  Issue	2-3
  Pages	515-530
  Publication	Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia
  ISSN	0870-5283; 2183-461X
  Date	2015
  DOI	10.17990/RPF/2015_71_2_0515
  Language	English
  Abstract	Resumo: O principal ponto de desacordo entre as filosofias emergentes e desenvolvidas no início do século XVIII na Alemanha é, indiscutivelmente, a alegação da possibilidade da metafísica a partir do princípio de razão suficiente. Este trabalho é dividido em duas partes. Inicialmente, apresenta-se o debate empreendido entre a tentativa de Wolff de justificação do princípio de razão suficiente – enquanto derivado do princípio de contradição – e a descrença de Crusius acerca de tal justificação. Defende-se que a posição desses filósofos sobre a justificação do princípio de razão suficiente especifica as suas concepções de filosofia. Ao passo que Wolff argumenta que a filosofia, enquanto “ciência das coisas possíveis”, deve seguir o método da matemática, Crusius assegura que, ao dar conta da tarefa de considerar “as coisas realmente existentes”, a filosofia deve possuir o seu método próprio de investigação. Num segundo momento, considera-se o empreendimento kantiano de justificação do princípio de razão suficiente, de modo a dar conta das exigências tanto de Wolff como de Crusius. Argumenta-se que a busca kantiana de justificação do princípio na Nova dilucidatio de 1755 compreende os seguintes momentos: (i.) a garantia de uma equivalência lógica entre o princípio de contradição e o princípio de razão suficiente; (ii.) o estabelecimento do princípio de razão suficiente como uma razão de existência do que existe de modo contingente. Palavras-chave: dedução, ontologia, metafísica alemã, princípio de contradição, princípio de razão suficiente Abstract: The fundamental point of disagreement among philosophies born and developed in Germany in the beginning of the XVIII century is, unquestionably, the defense of the possibility of metaphysics by means of the justification of the so called principle of sufficient reason. This paper is divided into two parts. Initially, the debate that ensued from Wolff’s attempt at a justification of the principle of sufficient reason as derived from the principle of contradiction in face of Crusius’ disbelief of such a justification is pointed out. It is sustained that the position of both philosophers concerning the justification of the principle of sufficient reason points to the specificity of their conception of philosophy. While Wolff argues that philosophy as a “science of possible things” should follow the method of mathematics, Crusius assures that, at holding the task of accounting for “truthfully existent beings”, philosophy must have its own method of investigation. Secondly, Kant’s undertaking at justifying the principle of sufficient reason accounting for the requirements of both Wolff and Crusius is taken into account. It is argued that Kant’s search for a justification in the 1755 Nova dilucidatio holds the following moments: (i) the assurance of a logical equivalence between the principle of contradiction and the principle of sufficient reason; (ii) the establishment of the principle of sufficient reason as a reason of existence of that which exists in a contingent way. Keywords: deduction, ontology, German metaphysics, principle of contradiction, principle of sufficient reason
  Date Added	28/07/2015, 12:03:15
  Modified	21/10/2015, 15:39:45

  Tags:

  • deduction
  • German metaphysics
  • Ontology
  • principle of contradiction
  • principle of sufficient reason

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