Explain how Cartesian formulation of ontological argument is criticized by Kant.

Explain how Cartesian formulation of ontological argument is criticized by Kant.

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The following answer addresses the question "Explain how Cartesian formulation of ontological argument is criticized by Kant.".

The Cartesian formulation of the ontological argument, proposed by René Descartes in his "Meditations on First Philosophy," is a classic example of a cosmological argument for the existence of God. Descartes argues that the very idea of a maximally great being (God) implies its existence. However, this formulation has been subject to significant criticism, particularly by Immanuel Kant. Kant's critique of the Cartesian ontological argument is multifaceted and can be examined through several key points.

The Nature of the Idea of God

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Properties

Descartes argues that the idea of God is an intrinsic property of the human mind. Kant, however, argues that the idea of God is an extrinsic property, derived from the experience of the world. In his "Critique of Pure Reason," Kant states that the concept of God is not a pure idea but is derived from the experience of the world and the moral law within us (Kant, 1781/1787, A801/B831). This distinction is crucial because it shifts the argument from the realm of pure reason to that of experience and moral law.

The Concept of God as a Postulate of Practical Reason

Kant further argues that the concept of God is not a theoretical postulate but a practical one. In his "Critique of Practical Reason," Kant maintains that the idea of God is a postulate of moral reason, necessary for the possibility of moral action (Kant, 1788, A802/B830). This means that the existence of God is not a necessary condition for the existence of the world but rather a condition for the possibility of moral action. This practical orientation of the concept of God undermines the ontological argument's claim that the idea of God implies its existence.

The Role of Experience in the Ontological Argument

Experience as the Source of Knowledge

Kant's transcendental idealism posits that all knowledge is derived from experience. In his "Critique of Pure Reason," Kant argues that our knowledge of the world is structured by our cognitive faculties, which are themselves derived from experience (Kant, 1781/1787, A19/B33). This means that the idea of God, as a maximally great being, is not a priori but is derived from our experience of the world.

The Limits of Pure Reason

Kant also argues that pure reason has its limits and cannot prove the existence of God. In his "Critique of Pure Reason," Kant distinguishes between analytic and synthetic judgments. Analytic judgments are true by virtue of their logical form (e.g., "All bachelors are unmarried"), while synthetic judgments are true by virtue of their relation to experience (e.g., "All swans are white"). Kant argues that the ontological argument is a synthetic judgment because it claims to know something about the world that is not already contained in the concept of God (Kant, 1781/1787, A24/B38). Therefore, it is not a valid use of pure reason.

The Moral Law and the Concept of God

Moral Law as the Basis for the Concept of God

Kant argues that the moral law is the basis for the concept of God. In his "Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals," Kant maintains that the moral law is a categorical imperative, which is unconditional and universally valid (Kant, 1785, A420/B448). The concept of God is derived from the moral law, not the other way around. This means that the existence of God is not a necessary condition for the moral law but rather a consequence of it.

The Moral Law as a Postulate of Practical Reason

Kant further argues that the moral law is a postulate of practical reason. In his "Critique of Practical Reason," Kant maintains that the moral law requires the existence of God as a condition for the possibility of moral action (Kant, 1788, A802/B830). This means that the existence of God is not a necessary condition for the existence of the world but rather a condition for the possibility of moral action. This practical orientation of the concept of God undermines the ontological argument's claim that the idea of God implies its existence.

The Problem of the Cosmological Argument

The Cosmological Argument and the Principle of Sufficient Reason

Kant's critique of the cosmological argument is closely related to his critique of the ontological argument. In his "Critique of Pure Reason," Kant argues that the principle of sufficient reason (PSR) is a fundamental principle of reason, which states that everything that exists has a sufficient reason for its existence (Kant, 1781/1787, A626/B654). However, Kant argues that the PSR is not a valid principle of reason because it is not a synthetic judgment but an analytic one. This means that the PSR does not provide a valid basis for the cosmological argument.

The Problem of Infinite Regression

Kant also argues that the cosmological argument leads to an infinite regression. In his "Critique of Pure Reason," Kant maintains that the cosmological argument assumes that the world has a cause, which itself has a cause, and so on, ad infinitum (Kant, 1781/1787, A626/B654). This infinite regression is a logical contradiction because it assumes that an infinite series of causes can exist without a first cause. This problem undermines the cosmological argument's claim that the world has a cause.

Conclusion

Kant's critique of the Cartesian formulation of the ontological argument is a significant contribution to the philosophy of religion. By arguing that the idea of God is an extrinsic property, derived from experience and the moral law, Kant undermines the ontological argument's claim that the idea of God implies its existence. Furthermore, by arguing that pure reason has its limits and that the moral law is a postulate of practical reason, Kant provides a practical basis for the concept of God that undermines the ontological argument's claim that the idea of God implies its existence. Finally, by arguing that the cosmological argument leads to an infinite regression, Kant provides a logical basis for rejecting the cosmological argument's claim that the world has a cause. Overall, Kant's critique of the Cartesian formulation of the ontological argument is a powerful and influential argument against the use of pure reason to prove the existence of God.

References

• Kant, I. (1781/1787). Critique of Pure Reason. Translated by P. Guyer and A. W. Wood. Cambridge University Press, 1998.
• Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Translated by M. Gregor. Cambridge University Press, 1998.
• Kant, I. (1788). Critique of Practical Reason. Translated by M. Gregor. Cambridge University Press, 1996.