Spontaneity and Receptivity in Kant

I begin by discussing the internal tension in the concept of spontaneity, before showing how in Kant a paramount case thereof is transcendental freedom as the power to begin. I pass on to Kant's identification of spontaneity with thinking, and discuss his interest in the complementarity of spontaneity and receptivity in experience and knowledge. I distinguish passivity from receptivity, and analyze the difference between pure and empirical intuition. Finally, I conclude with some remarks on self-affection aimed at showing the close connection it has with spontaneity and receptivity.