Question:

In Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, the equation 7 + 5 = 12 is synthetic a priori and not simply analytic for the following reason(s).

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Remember: Analytic statements are those true by definition alone, while synthetic statements like \(7 + 5 = 12\) require external intuition or experience for their truth.
Updated On: Aug 29, 2025
  • A simple analysis of the concept of 5, the concept of 7 and the concept of addition does not give us the sum 12
  • With 7 as the starting point, we require an intuition such as 5 fingers or 5 marks on a page to reach upto 12
  • If 7 + 5 = 12 were an analytic proposition it would not need any intuition to know it
  • We arrive at the knowledge of 7 + 5 = 12 by imitating others adding 7 and 5
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The Correct Option is A, B, C

Solution and Explanation


In Kant's view, analytic propositions are those that are true by definition and do not require experience. For example, in the case of \(7 + 5 = 12\), the knowledge of it is not derived solely from the meanings of the terms involved. It requires the application of intuition or an empirical representation, such as counting objects or marks on paper, to grasp the sum (hence, \(7 + 5 = 12\) is synthetic). Thus, the equation is not analytic.
\[ \boxed{\text{(A), (B), and (C) are correct; they explain the need for external intuition or analysis.}} \]
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