A historical and systematic analysis of transcendental arguments

Abstract

This article examines and reconstructs transcendental arguments from a historical and systematic perspective. Historically, a rich tradition preceding Kant is identified, including examples of transcendental reasoning such as Descartes' cogito ergo sum, Aristotle's principle of non-contradiction, and Plato's argument of the Forms. This suggests that the concept of the transcendental has deep roots in philosophy. Nevertheless, attention is also given to the contemporary emergence of these arguments. Systematically, transcendental arguments are reconstructed based on their subject matter, specifically the content of their premises and conclusion. Furthermore, the relevance of transcendental arguments is emphasized in their distinctive aspects as conditions of possibility and their ability to highlight performative contradictions in skepticism. This analysis enables a reflection on the epistemological foundations that render skepticism viable as a philosophical stance.