Book notes on Ewing (A)

(Originally written September 11, 2006 in Book 8)

VII. 3 - In Defense of A Priori Knowledge
A. C. Ewing (1899 - 1973)
-Cambridge University

Ewing argues against Ayer and states that the statement 'there is no synthetic a priori knowledge' is itself a synthetic a priori judgment.

Meaning of the Distinction, "A priori" Character of Mathematics

There is a sharp distinction betwixt a priori and empirical judgments

Most of our knowledge is empirical. This comes from two sources:
1) Sense perception
2) Introspection

Knowledge we obtained simply by thinking is a priori.

A priori knowledge is necessary truths and we know why it is true.

Empirical propositions are contingent.

Mathematics must be a priori because otherwise we could not be able to add two numbers together without counting. Since we need not count (an empirical method), knowledge of mathematics is a priori.