For our final week on the first Critique we discuss Kant’s Third Antinomy and various conceptions of freedom. In particular, we’ll see how Kant aims to secure the logical possibility that we are what he calls “transcendentally free.” We’ll also look at how this view is developed in the Critique of Practical Reason.
Readings
- CPR: Antinomy of Pure Reason and Third Antinomy, A405-25/B432-53 and A444-51/B474-9 (Guyer and Wood, 459-69 and 484-9)
- CPR: Resolution of the cosmological idea, A532-58/B560-86 (Guyer and Wood, 532-46)
- CPrR: 5:91-100 (Practical Philosophy 213-220)
- OPTIONAL: Wood, ’The Antinomies of Pure Reason’
- OPTIONAL: Pereboom, ’Kant on Transcendental Freedom’
- OPTIONAL: Allison, ’Kant on Freedom of the Will’
Questions
- What is an “antinomy”?
- What is the set of opposing views constituting the Third Antinomy?
- How does Kant resolve the Third Antinomy?
- What is practical freedom?
- What is transcendental freedom?
- Why does Kant think transcendental freedom is necessary for responsibility?