About the Purpose Opus postumum in Kant’s Philosophical System

Abstract

At the article devoted Kant’s last unfinished work “The transition from metaphysical elements of the natural sciences to physics” (Opus postumum) is made an assumption that Kant in course of the working has decided to change the first title of book extend its subject end to give the new one – “The philosophy as a science”. Only the successfulness of the philosophical system as the methodology of science can be the base of its truth. So, Kant comes to the conclusion a philosophical system mast has two parts: 1 the system of critics (the analysis all cognitions of the soul) and 2 the doctrine, i.e. the theoretical science knowledge as the mediator among philosophy and empirical science. Kant assigns a part of doctrine to Opus postumum. In the course of working at the manuscript Kant suggested number of hypotheses overstepping the limits of classical science. Kant proceeded from the principle of material unity of world in construction of the system so the doctrine should contain three parts. Accordingly in the Opus postumum there are materials devoted to physics, biology and anthropology. Kant introduces the notion of hyperphysics with which idea of a first substance is connected named by Kant a heat matter, or a light, or an ether – an absolutely thin all-penetrating structure could be the basis for every things of material world. This ideas opened perspectives of post-classical science.