In the entry Realism of the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy is written:

«Realism can itself be subdivided: Kant, for example, combines empirical realism (within the phenomenal world the realist says the right things - surrounding objects really exist and are independent of us and our mental states") with transcendental idealism (the phenomenal world as a whole reflects the structure imposed on it by the activity of our minds as they render it intelligible to us». (Simon Blackburn, Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford University Press, 2005, pag 309; the bold is put by us).

 That is a complete want of comprehension of Kant´ s gnosiology. This philosophical defect is not exclusive of Blackburn but spreads to the most part of cathedratic teachers of Philosophy and authors of philosophical books in all world .

Blackburn presents the theory of Kant as if it was bicephalous in gnosiology: adding idealism to the realism. It is not that way.

 Empirical realism means only this: the material world seems real in itself observed from our empiria, from our sensorial organs. But, in essence, empirical realism is metaphysical and physical idealism , that is to say, phenomenal world is a creation of our minds and is not real per se. The two expressions mean the same thing. Empirical realism is not material, physical. metaphysical  or gnosiologic realism: is physical or metaphysical idealism.

The text of Blackburn reveals also a want of comprehension about what is transcendental idealism: the phenomenal world is not only a reflection of the structure of our mind but stays as a whole inside of our human mind.

Blackburn interprets Kant as a no natural realist , a phenomenalist realist philosopher, but on ontology Kant is anti realist, idealist.

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© (Direitos de autor para Francisco Limpo de Faria Queiroz)