  More specifically, Vaihinger believes the development of Kant’s thought proceeds through six stages. From 1750–1760 Kant is a dogmatic rationalist after the Leibnizian-Wolffian model.  Then, under the influence of Locke and Hume, he endorses empiricism from 1760–1764. With the publication of Dreams of a Spirit Seer, he begins to adopt the standpoint of the critical philosophy, but by the time of the 1770 Inaugural Dissertation, the influence of Leibniz (particularly of the Nouveaux Essais) reasserts itself. This reversion to dogmatism lasts until 1772 when he becomes a skeptic, again under the influence of Hume. Finally, he arrives at the mature critical standpoint with the publication of the Critique of Pure Reason in 1781 (1881–92, 1:47–49). Unfortunately, on Vaihinger’s reading, doctrines from the first five periods continue to figure in Kant’s arguments for and even the core tenets of the critical philosophy. It is this which explains the numerous inconsistencies besetting Kant’s system.