Like devils, but still humans: a systematic examination and moderate defense of Kant’s view of (quasi-)diabolical evil
Among scholars, how to interpret and evaluate Kant’s rejection of diabolical evil remains controversial. This article has two aims. First, I will examine all six forms of (quasi-)diabolical evil either discussed by Kant or implicitly contained in his texts, thereby demonstrating the reasons why each...
| Published in: | International journal of philosophy and theology |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic/Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis
[2017]
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| In: |
International journal of philosophy and theology
Year: 2017, Volume: 78, Issue: 3, Pages: 270-288 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Kant, Immanuel 1724-1804
/ Devil
/ Malice
/ Arbitrariness
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| RelBib Classification: | KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history NBE Anthropology VA Philosophy |
| Further subjects: | B
Self-love
B evil qua evil B self-conceit B diabolical evil B Evil B Kant |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | Among scholars, how to interpret and evaluate Kant’s rejection of diabolical evil remains controversial. This article has two aims. First, I will examine all six forms of (quasi-)diabolical evil either discussed by Kant or implicitly contained in his texts, thereby demonstrating the reasons why each of these forms must be rejected (or admitted) within his framework. The conclusion of this text analysis is that the extremity of human evil for Kant is quasi-diabolical Willkür which does evil for the sake of self-assertion. Second, I will offer a moderate defense of Kant’s view of (quasi-)diabolical evil as a whole. On the one hand, the legitimacy of Kant’s rejection of both diabolical Wille and full-fledged diabolical Willkür (which precludes inner conflicts between different incentives) can be confirmed within his theory of practical freedom. On the other hand, faced with the possibility of ‘occasionally doing evil qua evil’, a critical defense of Kant’s moral psychology can be established, i.e. a defense that casts doubt on the distinguishability between ‘doing evil for the sake of self-assertion’ and ‘doing evil qua evil’. |
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| ISSN: | 2169-2327 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: International journal of philosophy and theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/21692327.2017.1285717 |