“We have no specific concept of the noumenon, but think of it merely as whatever the object may be apart from the manner in which our knowledge exhibits it.”

“The noumenon, called suchness or absolute mind, does not exist in a pristine realm above and beyond phenomena, but expresses itself precisely as phenomena.”

“The conception of a noumenon is therefore merely a limitative conception and therefore only of negative use.”

“Kant also says that the categories can be applied to phenomena, but not to noumena.”

“Following this, Kant argued we were only capable of perceiving phenomenon, or appearances, while the noumena, or spiritual essence, lay eternally beyond our reach.”

“For the skeptics, Kant's distinction between phenomena and noumena was redolent of earlier metaphysics.”