Appearances as Representations: An ‘Analytic’ Reading

Kant frequently states that ‘appearances’ ( Erscheinungen ) are mere ‘representations’ ( Vorstellungen ), a claim we can call AR. AR is typically understood as a substantive thesis. This paper argues for a claim that has not been explored at length elsewhere: that AR is an analytic truth, so it does not imply phenomenalism and can be affirmed by a moderate realist reader. I argue that appearances are mental contents directed towards things. Hence, appearances are not themselves the things our minds represent, which exist outside of minds. This reading permits us to accept insights from phenomenalists about Kant’s philosophy of mind, while saving the realists’ metaphysics.