An Analytic Comparison of Kant's Interpretation of Job (a) and Kierkegaard's Interpretation of Ibrahim(a)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

Abstract

Kant bases religion on ethics, and in his treatise “On the miscarriage of all philosophical trials in Theodicy”, by representing Job as an ethical character, calls him a representative of authentic Theodicy. But, the faith for Kierkegaard is a synthesis of the thesis (desire) and antithesis (abandonment). This process can be perceived in Fear and Trembling, in the story of sacrifice of Isaac. Kierkegaard believes that faith is a teleological suspension of ethics, i.e. resignation to the absurd  that reason tends to deny  while  faith can accept the absurd. Although reason rejects the absolute paradox and morality convicts such a paradox, it is just due to the faith that causes Ibrahim to try to sacrifice his son. This paper seeks to examine the divergent and convergent opinions of these two thinkers toward Job and Ibrahim based on Kant and Kierkegaard’s thought about the relation between ethics and religion.

Keywords

References

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Articles:
1. Fremstedal, Roe (2012) Original Sin and Radical Evil: Kierkegaard and Kant, Kantian Review vol 17, 197-225
2. Friedman, R Z. (1986) Kant and Kierkegaard: The Limits of Reason and the Cunning of faith, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 3-22
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Philosophy of Religion
Volume 15, Issue 2
July 2018
Pages 463-480

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