Noumenon
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The noumenon (plural: noumena) classically refers to an object of human inquiry, understanding or cognition. It is an object as it is in itself independent of the mind.
In the philosophy of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) and those whom he influenced, a thing as it is independent of any conceptualization or perception by the human mind; a thing-in-itself, postulated by practical reason but existing in a condition which is in principle unknowable and unexperienceable.
The term is generally used in contrast with, or in relation to, "phenomenon" (plural: phenomena), which refers to appearances, or objects of the senses. A phenomenon is that which is perceived; A noumenon is the actual object that emits the phenomenon in question.
It may be further contrasted with the perception and processing of a phenomenon in the human mind, storing it as a meme.
See also
- Anatta
- Haecceity
- Hypokeimenon
- Phenomenon
- Schopenhauer's criticism of the Kantian philosophy
- Transcendental idealism
- Unobservables
- The Void (philosophy)