Abstract

In this talk I would like to draw attention to a class of concepts, inescapable concepts, and their significance for philosophy, in particular metaphysics. I will argue that such inescapable concepts are related to the question what metaphysical conclusions one can draw from considerations simply about our own ways of representing the world. Focusing on such concepts naturally leads to a broadly neo-Kantian project in metaphysics, which I will contrast with a more neo-Carnapian lesson one might be tempted to draw from them instead. I will defend the neo-Kantian program, and outline some results that (I claim) can be achieved in it, including a defense of idealism.