no need to
dwell on the footnotes);; 57 ("Now the ground...") - 60
middle of first paragraph ("...the sole incentive"); Please address the following questions in several well-written paragraphs.
Read Immanuel Kant, Part One of Religion within the Boundaries of Mere
Reason (1792/1793), trans. George di Giovanni [book available for
purchase/on reserve]: 45-56 middle (no need to
dwell on the footnotes);; 57 ("Now the ground...") - 60
middle of first paragraph ("...the sole incentive");
(pp. 45-47; 56) What does it mean for Kant to say that "a human being" is evil? What does it mean for Kant to say that "human beings" are evil "by nature"?
(pp.47-50) What is "rigorism"? What is a "disposition"? Why does Kant prefer a "rigorist" account of human disposition?
(pp. 50-52; 57 bottom - 58) Explain what Kant means by the three "predispositions to good"--to animality, humanity, and personality? Can you connect these "predispositions" with his later denials of (1) the possibility that "sensuous nature" could be the ground of moral evil; and (2) the possibility that an "evil reason" could constitute such a ground?
As for past quizzes, you needn't aim for definitive answers but a preliminary, thoughtful response based on close attention to the text. (Be sure to substantiate your claims with detailed references.) Your answer may also include 1-2 important questions raised by your reading for further discussion.
Please use parenthetical page references for your quotations and citations.
Please type and double-space your answer, and number and staple the pages you hand in.
Please keep a copy of your quiz to refer to in our class discussions of Kant over the next few sessions.
posted March 5, 2003