TY - JOUR
T1 - Kant's quasi-transcendental argument for a necessary and universal evil propensity in human nature
AU - PALMQUIST, Stephen R
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - In Part One of Religion within the Bounds of Bare Reason, Kant repeatedly refers to a "proof" that human nature has a necessary and universal "evil propensity," but he provides only obscure hints at its location. Interpreters have failed to identify such an argument in Part One. After examining relevant passages, summarizing recent attempts to reconstruct the argument, and explaining why these do not meet Kant's stated needs, I argue that the elusive proof must have a transcendental form (called quasi-transcendental because Kant never uses "transcendental" in Religion). With deceptive simplicity, the section titles of Part One, viewed as components in an architechtonic system of religion, constitute steps in just such a proof.
AB - In Part One of Religion within the Bounds of Bare Reason, Kant repeatedly refers to a "proof" that human nature has a necessary and universal "evil propensity," but he provides only obscure hints at its location. Interpreters have failed to identify such an argument in Part One. After examining relevant passages, summarizing recent attempts to reconstruct the argument, and explaining why these do not meet Kant's stated needs, I argue that the elusive proof must have a transcendental form (called quasi-transcendental because Kant never uses "transcendental" in Religion). With deceptive simplicity, the section titles of Part One, viewed as components in an architechtonic system of religion, constitute steps in just such a proof.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=60950570909&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.2041-6962.2008.tb00079.x
DO - 10.1111/j.2041-6962.2008.tb00079.x
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:60950570909
SN - 0038-4283
VL - 46
SP - 261
EP - 297
JO - Southern Journal of Philosophy
JF - Southern Journal of Philosophy
IS - 2
ER -