Kant's moral argument

Introduction: What is the moral argument?

show existence of God through sense of morality
existence of morality= existence of God
there is a clear moral law suggesting there must be a source of this moral law which is God
Hnery Newman also contributed
Corinthians 'conscience is in the heart of all men'

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most famous argument part of his ethical theory
set out in his book 'Critique to Practical Reason'
a posteriori
claims humans are rational, autonomous, moral-decision makers
morality= doing one's moral duty
Kant rejects that Gods commands are the basis of morality - reason= basis of morality
morality can be derived from rationality - rationality is universal therefore morality is too

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rejects arguments that prove God's existence
God's existence is a matter beyond human knowledge - rejects cosmological or design argument
'It is morally necessary to assume the existence of God"

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by rational moral reasoning we have to put forward the idea that God exists as an explanation of morality
'postulate' means something which is thought of and put forward to solve a problem
Kant rejects pure reason and develops practical reason - coomon sense approach based on reflections
to explain morality you have to include the belief in God
explains why being moral is also being rational, Morality is reason made practical
3 postulates of practical reason ; we are immortal (recieve SB life after death), God exists and we are free beings

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highest good is the achievement of moral goodness and happiness together
acting in accordance to good will is doing an action because it is the right thing to do and it achieves summum bonum
this is the Categorical Imperative
duty is something you should do because CI states you 'ought to do'
if your action is virtuous it should lead to happeness and fulfilment
avaliable in the afterlife and awarded by God by acting out of duty
necessary reward otherwise it wouldnt be rational to act morally
EXAMPLE: Hitler did terrible things but killed himself before punishment, while morallly good actions go unrewarded and unnoticed such as heroes dying in war - it ensures justice
Is Summum bonum actucally acheiveable? - Mackie has discussed this
can you be good without believing in God?

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action is only moral if chosen freely
moral if you choose to do it
humans are autonomous decision makers
rejects that God is a divine law giver who gives orders for teh fear of punishment
what if you are incapable of making moral decisions freely?

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univeral basis of morality - moral duties are the same universally
can be worked out thorugh reason
all humans impose moral duties on themselves
intrinsically good reason for moral action is good will
do an action because it is good in itself- doesnt look at consequences
duty can lead to moral goodness and happiness
duty not emotion - emotional responses vary, but morlaity needs to be universal - Plato has argued this

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Moral action is about doing one's duty, reason to do one's duty is to achieve the Summum Bonum.
Sometimes there is too much evil in the world to achieve summum bonum even if you have followed your duty

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