Change Vs. Alteration

A further upshot of the First Analogy is a useful distinction between ‘change’ and ‘alteration’. A change occurs when one thing or quality goes out of existence and is replaced by another. An alternation occurs when a thing persists, but undergoes a change of quality. For example, with respect of a leaf’s transition in colour from green to brown, one would say that leaf itself undergoes an alteration of colour. In the broadest comprehension of sensory experience, Kant maintains that the projection of the category of substance onto experience as a whole entails that ultimately, there are only changes of sensory quality, and no changes in substance. To express this with greater profundity, he mentions the Latin phrase, ‘gigni de nihilo nihil, in nihilium nil posse reverti,’ which translates as ‘nothing comes from nothing, and nothing returns to nothing’. ~ Page 100

Comments

Sign-in to write a comment.

		Page color
		Comments Panel
		Screen Margins
▼▲
		Widescreen

← Among Dinesh's photos

See also...

Keywords

Authorizations, license

Change Vs. Alteration

Ξ	Frame Options
3 - +