Chapter 8: The Moral Argument
Essential terminology
Autonomy
Ego
Id
Postulate
Summum bonum
Super-ego
Key Scholars
Immanuel Kant (1724–1804)
Sigmund Freud (1856–1939)
INTRODUCTION: CAN WE KNOW GOD EXISTS FROM OUR SENSE OF MORALITY?
KANT’S MORAL ARGUMENT
Kant’s rejection of other forms of argument for God’s existence
WHAT DOES ‘GOD AS A POSTULATE OF PURE REASON’ MEAN?
THE BACKGROUND TO KANT’S MORAL ARGUMENT
WEAKNESSES IN KANT’S ARGUMENT
THE SUMMUM BONUM
Does it matter if the summum bonum is unachievable?
Does postulating the existence of God help people to be moral?
Kant and happiness
FREUD’S CRITICISMS OF KANT
INTRODUCTION
FREUD’S MODEL OF THE MIND
FREUD’S VIEW OF RELIGION AND MORAL AWARENESS
Cumulative argument for God’s existence