Zarathustra wrote: ↑Thu Aug 26, 2021 12:57 am
Isn't Kant really significant in his Epistemology only / mainly?
In general, in the history of philosophy Kant is indeed an important philosopher. His epistemology was an effort from him given the intellectual context in which he wrote it (the late 18th century), but ultimately it could no longer be upheld unmodified and in extenso with the discovery of Einstein Relativity Theories (Special and General) in the early 20th century. Notably, Kant's conception of space and time was clearly dealt a decisive blow with the repeated confirmation of the relativity theories by experimentation. However, you still find a minority so besotted with Kant (neo-Kantians) that they go to such extremism that they sound as if Einstein just plagiarized Kant in his formulation of his successful theories of relativity!!
But Kant didn't make only incorrect statements. And there are things in his epistemology that I agree with but differently than him. For example, I agree with Kant's main and central position that the mind is not a blank slate upon which experience writes. There are indeed cognitions in the mind that are not derived or induced from experience. For example, we all have the knowledge of God, the Almighty in us since we were in the womb of our mothers. This knowledge includes all that we are required to know about God so that we can fulfill our duty towards Him. Thus we already know that God is the Creator and the Provider of everything in the heavens and the earth and it is only Him that we should worship. This can be verified by the effect of the Holy Quran on babies, new borns and fetuses which is indeed an astonishing experience. The Quran is a revelation from God the Almighty to His blessed prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) through His angel Gabriel (peace be upon him).
Here are some samples of babies and a fetus reacting to the recitation of the Holy Quran if you would like to see for yourself:
1. Reaction of babies (3 min):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4slRE3V2y9s
2. A fetus prostrating in his mother's womb upon hearing the Holy Quran (5 min):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gUxJKARWUs
3. Reaction of a little girl (3min):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYGKR7fk_vk
4. Reaction of a BBC reporter (2min):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbh-S5uq8SY
There are many other videos on YouTube if you would like to further this experience. You can even be the subject of such an experiment. Below, I have selected some short Quranic recitation for you to listen and observe its effect on you.
1. Al-Fatiha (chapter 1):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6r47L-8uf8
2. At-Teen(chapter 95):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK88FsJ3xQM
3. Al-'Asr (chapter 103):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5iElBopeyA
4. Al-Feel(chapter 105):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfBECWykm2o
5. Al-Baqara (chapter 2 verse 255) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaNdjbGN-Fg
There is a recitation by a construction worker that I am greatly appreciative but it's only on Facebook now:
https://www.facebook.com/khalifa.fauzan ... 061192590/
Zarathustra wrote: ↑Thu Aug 26, 2021 12:57 am
I can't recall Kant being cited for his philosophy of religion. Well occasionally very occasionally.
I find religion to be the most important thing in the life of a human being. For if someone is to be grateful to the One Who created him then he should know his Creator and know how to earn His pleasure and avoid His wrath. So let's talk a bit about one aspect of Kant's view on Christianity.
Even though I do not share the epistemology of Kant and his philosophy in general, I have to acknowledge that there are few statements he made that I find to be correct. I have on about a couple of occasions on this site itself quoted some of his statements that I found to be correct. Another statement he made that I find correct was his statement about the Trinity. Many Trinitarian Christians even though they believe in the Trinity do nevertheless admit that it is completely nonsensical. But Kant not only admitted that but he went further and said that the Trinity was completely useless. Below I quoted it in extenso because it is again from a book which is available for free on scribd but only for those who would sign up for free.
Quote from Kant, Immanuel - Conflict of the Faculties (Abaris, 1979):
"
Philosophical Principles of Scriptural Exegesis for Settling the Conflict
I. If a scriptural text contains certain theoretical teachings which are proclaimed sacred but which transcend all rational
concepts (even moral ones), it may be interpreted in the interests of practical reason; but if it contains statements that contradict practical reason, it must be interpreted in the interests of practical reason. Here are some pertinent examples.
a) The doctrine of the Trinity, taken literally, has no practical relevance at all, even if we think we understand it; and it is even more clearly irrelevant if we realize that it transcends all our concepts. Whether we are to worship three or ten persons in the Divinity makes no difference: the pupil will implicitly accept one as readily as the other because he has no concept at all of a number of persons in one God (hypostases), and still more so because this distinction can make no difference in his rules of conduct. On the other hand, if we read a moral meaning into this article of faith (as I have tried to do in Religion within the Limits etc.), it would no longer contain an inconsequential belief but an intelligible one that refers to our moral vocation. The same holds true of the doctrine that one person of the Godhead became man. For if we think of this God-man, not as the Idea of humanity in its full moral perfection, present in God from eternity and beloved by Him* (cf. Religion, p. 73 ft), but as the Divinity "dwelling incarnate" in a real man and working as a second nature in him, then we can draw nothing practical from this mystery: since we cannot require ourselves to rival a God, we cannot take him as an example. And I shall not insist on the further difficulty-why, if such a union is possible in one case, God has not let all men participate in it, so that everyone would necessarily be pleasing to Him. Similar considerations can be raised about the stories of the Resurrection and Ascension of this God-man. " [Conflict of the Faculties]
And God, the All-Knower says in the Holy Quran, interpretation of meaning:
- O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.[Quran 4:171]