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Kant's Quasi‐Transcendental Argument for a Necessary and Universal Evil Propensity in Human Nature
Author(s) -
Palmquist Stephen R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the southern journal of philosophy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.281
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 2041-6962
pISSN - 0038-4283
DOI - 10.1111/j.2041-6962.2008.tb00079.x
Subject(s) - transcendental number , argument (complex analysis) , epistemology , philosophy , interpreter , simplicity , infinity , mathematics , computer science , chemistry , biochemistry , programming language , mathematical analysis
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.