The Stability of the Analytic/Synthetic-Distinction

Abstract

This article proposes a reconstruction of the reason why the Marburg School of Neo-Kantianism seemingly disregarded the analytic-/synthetic-distinction altogether: Members of this school regarded incessant conceptual change as a necessary feature of human knowledge. When concepts change, the analytic-/synthetic-distinction shifts accordingly. Since Hermann Cohen (and his students) found no use for such an unstable distinction, they left it out of consideration entirely. As a paradigm example I discuss Hermann Cohen's view in detail, then compare it to Natorp and Cassirer. Finally I point out that there is a striking contrast on this point between the Marburg and the South-Western School of Neo-Kantianism, which correlates with their embrace of realism and idealism respectively.