- 著者
-
森 良太
- 出版者
- 宗教哲学会
- 雑誌
- 宗教哲学研究 (ISSN:02897105)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- vol.38, pp.61-73, 2021-03-31 (Released:2021-11-02)
How should the concept of justification, which was central to the ethical philosophy of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), be positioned in the religious context? In Christianity, “justification” means that “a person is recognized as righteous by God.” However, in Kant’s philosophy, it can be realized only through human autonomy. In that sense, it is somewhat different from the Christian concept.
The issue of “justification” has sparked controversy between Catholics and Protestants, since the Reformation in the 16th century. However, the adoption of the 1999 “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification,” originally by Catholics and Lutherans and since then by other Protestant groups, has largely resolved this disagreement.
Building on that “reconciliation,” this paper explores the possibility of a similar “reconciliation” between Kantian philosophy and Christianity by comparing the views of “justification” expressed by Kant and in the “Joint Declaration.” For Kant, “justification” flows from the ideal grace that enables human autonomy, whereas in the “Joint Declaration,” the grace of God itself provides the “justification.” But I argue that the difference can be the common ground for both at the same time. On that ground, I see the realization for reconciling the positions of Kant and Christianity.