--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was Kant who first rejected the…" description: "\"It was Kant who first rejected the Cartesian premise of the mind's self-transparency: the idea that when it comes to knowing our own minds, we just kno..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/ray-brassier-32789_feelings_it-was-kant-who-first-rejected-the-carte_474093.jpg" --- # It was Kant who first rejected the Cartesian premise of… ![“It was Kant who first rejected the Cartesian premise of the mind's self-transparency: the idea that when it comes to knowing our own minds, we just know what we are thinking or feeling, and do not have to learn how to perceive ourselves thinking or feeling.” quote by Ray Brassier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/ray-brassier-32789_feelings_it-was-kant-who-first-rejected-the-carte_474093.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/ray-brassier-32789_feelings_it-was-kant-who-first-rejected-the-carte_474093.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/ray-brassier-32789_feelings_it-was-kant-who-first-rejected-the-carte_474093.jpg) > “It was Kant who first rejected the Cartesian premise of the mind's self-transparency: the idea that when it comes to knowing our own minds, we just know what we are thinking or feeling, and do not have to learn how to perceive ourselves thinking or feeling.” [Ray Brassier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-brassier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kant argued that we cannot directly know our own minds; we must learn to perceive our thoughts and feelings like any other object. **In simple terms:** We must learn to observe our own mental states. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑reflection skills. Themes self‑knowledge philosophy perception Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - psychotherapy - mindfulness practice - philosophical study Key Concepts Kantian critique self‑observation Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure accurate self‑perception? - What methods improve introspection? A Different Perspective Self‑observation can be biased by preconceptions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“If anything defeated her, it would be her own mind and self-doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-johnson/if-anything-defeated-her-it-would-be-her-own-mind-and-self-doubt/) [Cat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-johnson/) > [“There are so many people whose minds do not belong to them. There are so many people whose thoughts have been purchased by people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/there-are-so-many-people-whose-minds-do-not-belong-to-them-there-are/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [The mind self-edits. The mind airbrushes. 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This Self is not someone other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-which-makes-the-tongue-speak-but-cannot-be-spoken-by-the-tongue/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ray Brassier > [If nothing matters, then even the thought that nothing matters doesn't matter. 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