Kant's Theodicy in Toward Perpetual Peace
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2318-9800.v30i3p41-58Keywords:
Theodicy, War, Evil, Freedom, NatureAbstract
The problem of theodicy has a central function in the systematics of Kant's philosophy, since its essential aspect, namely, the problem of the “contrariety of ends” is at the core of the problem of the highest good. If this is correct, it can be said that theodicy directly and indirectly permeates all levels of Kantian thought. My purpose in this paper is to present, in accordance with this hypothesis, an attempt to interpret Kant's philosophy of history from the point of view of theodicy. I try to show how the first two types of contradiction of theodicy, concerning physical evil and moral evil, can be considered as "means" through which "nature" or, in Kant's words, "providence" promotes both the cultural progress of humanity and the progress of its legal-political institutions. As a result of my analysis, I suggest that the solution to the first two levels of contradiction in theodicy, addressed within the scope of a philosophy of history, opens the way for the solution to the third level within the scope of the philosophy of religion.
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