SPATIAL EXPERIENCE AND THE BODY IN THE CRITIQUE

Abstract

Kant says that ballgames are good for children not only because of the healthy effects of running, but also because they exercise their senses. More specifically, through the game they can learn to judge distance, size and spatial proportions better. Like Rousseau, Kant may be seen here as a proponent of the idea that man is not born with a fully developed capacity to orient himself in three-dimensional space, that is, to decide the location of an object in space relative to other objects and/or himself. He has to learn to do so, and in this learning process the body is essential. Earlier, in texts like Directions in space, Orientation and Anthropology, we have seen that Kant explains the presence of basic spatial concepts by