Free belief : The medieval heritage in Kant’s moral faith
Journal article
Insole, Christopher J.. (2019). Free belief : The medieval heritage in Kant’s moral faith. Journal of the History of Philosophy. 57(3), pp. 501-528. https://doi.org/10.1353/hph.2019.0056
Authors | Insole, Christopher J. |
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Abstract | I argue that insofar as Kant describes faith as a free-choice, he is aligned with the medieval tradition, and with his own sources that mediate this heritage (in particular, Leibniz and Locke). The medieval tradition consistently, affirmatively, and systematically invokes freedom and the will, with reference to belief in God, without such a dimension of choice implying any deflation in the degree of commitment to this belief. However, in clarifying that the movement of the will involves “human freedom” alone, without divine action, Kant departs from this tradition. Such divine action, Kant is convinced, would destroy genuine human freedom. This conviction is the source of Kant’s repeated insistence that grace follows rather than precedes moral conversion. It is on this point concerning human freedom and grace that Kant departs from the medieval tradition, rather than with his claim that we choose to believe in God. |
Keywords | Kant; Aquinas; knowledge; opinion; faith; belief; morality; practical reason |
Year | 2019 |
Journal | Journal of the History of Philosophy |
Journal citation | 57 (3), pp. 501-528 |
Publisher | Johns Hopkins University Press |
ISSN | 0022-5053 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1353/hph.2019.0056 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85072638844 |
Open access | Published as green open access |
Page range | 501-528 |
Author's accepted manuscript | License All rights reserved File Access Level Open |
Publisher's version | License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 09 Jul 2019 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 01 Sep 2021 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8wqz3/free-belief-the-medieval-heritage-in-kant-s-moral-faith
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AM_Insole_2019_Free_belief_the_medieval_heritage_in.pdf | |
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File access level: Open |
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