Kant: Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason: And Other Writings (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) [Paperback]

Immanuel Kant (Author), Allen Wood (Translator), George Di Giovanni (Translator), Robert Merrihew Adams (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521599644 | ISBN-13: 978-0521599641 | Publication Date: January 28, 1999

Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason, a work of major importance in the history of Western religious thought, represents a great philosopher's attempt to spell out the form and content of a type of religion that would be grounded in moral reason and would meet the needs of ethical life. This volume presents it, together with three short essays that illuminate it, in a new translation by Allen Wood and George di Giovanni, with an introduction by Robert Merrihew Adams that locates this essential essay in its historical and philosophical context.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description

Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason, a work of major importance in the history of Western religious thought, represents a great philosopher's attempt to spell out the form and content of a type of religion that would be grounded in moral reason and would meet the needs of ethical life. This volume presents it, together with three short essays that illuminate it, in a new translation by Allen Wood and George di Giovanni, with an introduction by Robert Merrihew Adams that locates it in its historical and philosophical context.

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (January 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521599644
• ISBN-13: 978-0521599641
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kant's "Religion": the Cambridge edition, November 12, 2011

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John M. Connolly (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kant: Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason: And Other Writings (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) (Paperback)

This is a fine edition all around: the translation is very readable, the introduction and the notes are helpful, and combining the well-known (but seldom read) "Religion" with a number of Kant's shorter writings on this subject is also valuable for scholars and general readers alike. Kant's views on this topic deserve to be more widely appreciated, and this edition will help make that possible.

John Connolly, Smith College

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Theology in the Developement of Morals, February 3, 2009

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Philip S Roeda (Cook, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kant: Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason: And Other Writings (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) (Paperback)

Immanuel Kant quotes Bible scripture in this work quite often; neither is his thesis is neither Christian, Jewish, nor Mormon, though he would like this work to shape theology of people of these faiths among others that exist. This book is theological in that it is a philosophy about God and man. The author believes in absolute truth but does not understand it to come from scripture or a particular religion. He wants right and wrong to be determined through reason and argument. An individual develops maxims about morals through experience in the world through the social process. This social process may include cultural understanding of God and Religious practice in society. Yet the author argues what is bad behavior and what is good behavior is distinct from personal preference. This ultimate truth is grasped through reason, not through dogma or scriptural interpretation. It is an interesting read to which conclusions I heartedly disagree.

Immanuel Kant uses John 3:5 in his argument: that man most be born again. His use of the term is not the common use evangelical circles of a supernatural rebirth of the individual. He understands this rebirth may come from any religious tradition. His arguments are not just made to alter Christianity but to alter all religion. Rebirth is a change of aim or purpose in the individual's life that is to follow God's Will (Kant's perspective who ever that may be). No longer does self love - self absorption rule, but man's common good. True seeking your neighbor's welfare is God's Will, but to Kant's arguments it really the sole purpose of religion and faith. While seeking to do God's Will includes serving the believer and the unbeliever in the World, one must seek to glorify God and have a relationship with God. Kant scorns worship and scriptural study.

Kant uses the term universalism. He wants all faiths to come one accord of this belief in this rational faith: An ecumenical faith where all faiths of the world give up their scriptural meaning and trade it for another understanding. A Faith based on Rational thought. Kant argues that scriptural meaning needs to be forced into rational thought. Faith based institutions would exist to train and socialize people to this rational faith and abandon their old ways. I guess this is an argument for liberal Christian theology and an alteration of other religions: An argument for those who never believed ion the first place. Five Star book, but to what is true One star.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good translation, August 22, 2010

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Bruce P. Barten (Saint Paul, MN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kant: Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason: And Other Writings (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) (Paperback)

I previously reviewed a different translation of this book that was posted for this version. I think the Cambridge Texts version has a better grasp of the terminology and flow of thought in religious thinking. Years ago I used another email address so I get to write as a different person now, but I hardly have to read this book anymore. Just opening it to a page brings me to where Kant considered whatever question he was on. Ending the book with the end of times allows Kant to quote an angel in the final book of the Bible, called Apocalypse in this translation, for the concept of eternity: time will be no more. Kant associated thinking with reflecting, so he pictured heaven as all one Allelulia all the time, and I know what people in hell are saying, which Kant dares not to say.