The Concept of Reflection in the Philosophy of Kant

The article analyzes the concept of reflection in Kant's philosophy. The distinction between consciousness (Bewußtsein) and thinking (Denken) in the structure of Kantian experience allows different functions of reflection to be distinguished. It is shown that in Transcendental Logic reflection is considered, first of all, as a means of controlling the process of cognition. Transcendental reflection is aimed at realizing the relationship of cognitive abilities (sensuality and reason) and is carried out as their transcendental topic. Since, however, the reverse side of awareness of the way an object is given is awareness of the subject of cognition itself, to the extent transcendental reflection also has an implicit existential meaning. Therefore, reflection in the Critique of Pure Reason acts as "consciousness about consciousness." In contrast, in the Critique of the Faculty of Judgment, reflection acts in the function of the faculty of judgment as a tool for the implementation of productive cognition. If the defining faculty of judgment connects already existing contemplations with concepts, then the reflective faculty of judgment serves to search for general concepts. And in this sense, reflection in the mode of the reflective faculty of judgment acts as "thinking for thinking." It is indicated that in this case, the principle for the operation of the determining ability of judgment is the principle of expediency; only in this case is it possible to search for a general concept for special empirical phenomena given in experience. It is shown that the search for such a rule for the determining ability of judgment is carried out by the reflexive ability of judgment. In the latter case, it appears in the mode of teleological judgment that links imagination not with the concept of reason but with the rule (principle) of the purpose of reason. But in pure reflection, the reflective judgment is directed at itself and gives the principle to itself. This means that in this mode of aesthetic judgment, the reflective ability is an expression of the pure subjectivity of the subject. It is concluded that Kant's teaching implicitly contains many points that become the subject of analysis in modern philosophy.