Immanuel Kant

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews and discusses the ideas and theories of German philosopher Immanuel Kant. According to the paper, Kant rejects St. Augustine's ontological argument in that reason is too limited to know anything that is beyond human experience and, therefore, cannot prove the existence of God. The paper goes on to say that Kant does, however, accept that religion can be established by the operations of morality in the human mind or by practical reason. Thus, God's existence becomes a necessary presupposition to objective, moral judgments, which extend beyond mere relative moral preferences.

From the Paper:

"Despite his rejection of ideas as objects of experience or speculative thought, Kant recognizes the legitimate function of ideas in thinking (Peters 2004). He believes that ideas can be used as "regulative." This means that they can be treated as if they were true in directing the understanding to a certain objective or purpose and to give concepts "the greatest possible unity in combination with the greatest possible extension (Kant 1945 as qtd in Peters)." These ideas can, then, provide the possibility for completeness and unity of experience. He also acknowledges the role of ideas in practical reason (Peters)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Believe Project. Arguments for the Existence of God. Christ Walk Church, 2004. http://mb-soft.com/believe/textargument.htm
• Peters, Richard. Immanuel Kant and Theology. Boston Collaborative Encyclopedia of Western Philosophy, 2004
• Rossi, Philip. Kant's Philosophy of Religion. Edward Zalta, ed. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2004. http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2004/entries/kant-religion/#3.9
• Swindal, James. The Renaissance and Enlightenment Periods. Faith and Reason. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2006. http://www.iep.utm.edu/f/faith-re.htm#H5
• Roselle, John E, trans. Grace and Free Choice by St. Augustine. New York: New City Press, 1999

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