This book explores the transcendental philosophy of Immanuel Kant as a continuation of British Empiricism by non-empiricist means. It argues that philosophies of John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume are united not by their empiricism, but their commitment to sensibilism — the thesis that all ideas originate in being perceived, and have no existence prior to or independently of their immediate presence to consciousness in perception. These philosophies are examined in detail to expose the gaps, preconceptions, and misunderstandings that contributed to obscuring the underlying continuity ... More

This book explores the transcendental philosophy of Immanuel Kant as a continuation of British Empiricism by non-empiricist means. It argues that philosophies of John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume are united not by their empiricism, but their commitment to sensibilism — the thesis that all ideas originate in being perceived, and have no existence prior to or independently of their immediate presence to consciousness in perception. These philosophies are examined in detail to expose the gaps, preconceptions, and misunderstandings that contributed to obscuring the underlying continuity and unity of their thought. The book is divided into four parts. The General Introduction presents four chapters dealing with the philosophies of Kant and Hume. Part I explores Locke’s new model philosophy. Part II discusses Berkeley’s theory of understanding. Part III focuses on Hume’s associationism.