What is transcendental definition?

The term transcendental definition is used to describe a philosophical concept introduced by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. It is a type of definition that goes beyond empirical or dictionary definitions. It is an attempt to determine the necessary conditions for something to be conceived of at all. Transcendental definitions are concerned with the conditions that must exist in order for a concept to be meaningful, rather than the concept itself.

For example, Kant believed that the categories of the understanding, such as space, time, causality, and substance, were necessary for any experience to be intelligible. These categories are not themselves empirical concepts that can be observed directly, but rather they are the preconditions necessary for any empirical concept to be meaningful. Thus, transcendental definitions seek to establish the a priori conditions necessary for the possibility of experience.

Transcendental definitions are used to provide a deeper understanding of concepts and to explore the underlying assumptions and principles that shape our understanding of reality. They are commonly used in philosophy and also in fields such as linguistics, mathematics, and psychology.