Radical Evil and Freedom in Kant’s Account of Religion

カントの自由は人間の自然的な傾向性から独立して自らに法則を与えるという意味での自律としての自由であり，その法則は人間にとって自然的な自愛や自己幸福を度外視して意志の格律の普遍妥当性のみを純粋に命じる道徳法則である。このような法則に従う自由な意志が道徳的な善の根拠となる。しかし自由な意志は同時にこの法則に背く悪への傾向性を持つ。では，悪への傾向性を持つ人間はいかにして善へと転換しうるのか。主としてカント宗教論の論述に即してこの問題を論じたうえで，あらためて，宗教ではなく道徳の次元で人間の自由を問う意味を考えてみる。Kant develops a theory of motivational autonomy derived from his characterization of moral law as both the sole criterion and sufficient incentive for morally good action. Kant sees the crucial question of morality for every individual as being that of deciding freely to follow the dictates of moral law, or to follow sensuous inclinations for happiness. We are going to continue to take as our general maxim of conscious willing the happiness principle, or we are going to follow the principle of moral. If we choose the first alternative, we are evil, but we choose the second alternative, we set ourselves on the path of unconditional duty and virtue. Right then, is man by nature morally good or bad? According to Kant, on Religion within the Limits of Reason Alone, man is not by nature a moral being .This paper reconsidered Kant’s arguments of human evil in term of moral theory