Citation

Palmquist S. Diametros 2017; (54): 76-94.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017)

DOI

10.13153/diam.54.2017.1134

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Kant's Religion postulates the idea of an ethical community as a necessary requirement for humanity to become good. Few interpreters acknowledge Kant's claims that realizing this idea requires building a "church" characterized by unity, integrity, freedom, and unchangeability, and that this new form of community is a non-coercive version of theocracy. Traditional (e.g., Jewish) theocracy replaces the political state of nature ("might makes right") with an ethical state of nature ("should makes good"); non-coercive theocracy transcends this distinction, uniting humanity in a common vision of a divine legislator whose legislation is inward: the law of love binds church members together like families.

Language: en

Keywords

ethical community