Channel: The Partially Examined Life
Duration: 22:44
Description: This recording is a reading of Chapter II of the Critique of Practical Reason: Of the Dialectic of Pure Reason in defining the Conception of the “Summum Bonum”. This section, Part 5, is entitled “The Existence of God as a Postulate of Pure Practical Reason” In it you find Kant’s most explicit argument in favor of a belief in God, although note that it is merely postulated as a subjective moral necessity, and not intended as an objective proof as such. Relevant quote: “It follows that the postulate of the possibility of the highest derived good (the best world) is likewise the postulate of the reality of a highest original good, that is to say, of the existence of God. Now it was seen to be a duty for us to promote the summum bonum.” “Consequently it is not merely allowable, but it is a necessity connected with duty as a requisite, that we should presuppose the possibility of this summum bonum.” “And as this is possible only on condition of the existence of God, it inseparably connects the supposition of this with duty. That is, it is morally necessary to assume the existence of God.” “It must be remarked here that this moral necessity is subjective. That is, it is a want, and not objective; that is, itself a duty. For there cannot be a duty to suppose the existence of anything (since this concerns only the theoretical employment of reason).” Note: “Summum bonum” is Latin for “the highest good”.
Published: June 8, 2011 6:54 pm