The Modern Intellectual Tradition - Revision history

RobertBushman: /* Less Cynical */

2026-01-02T06:38:19Z

Less Cynical

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:38, 2 January 2026
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	In Critique of Practical Reason, Kant said that we cannot observe god, the soul, or free will. Since we cannot observe them, science cannot say whether they exist or not. We are free to believe in them or not. Either position is entirely consistent with science and pure reason.		In Critique of Practical Reason, Kant said that we cannot observe god, the soul, or free will. Since we cannot observe them, science cannot say whether they exist or not. We are free to believe in them or not. Either position is entirely consistent with science and pure reason.

	This is where "~~practical reason~~" comes in. Kant argued:		This is where the title "Practical Reason" comes from. Kant argued:

	* In order to believe that our choices matter, we must - as a practical necessity - believe that we are free to choose our actions.		* In order to believe that our choices matter, we must - as a practical necessity - believe that we are free to choose our actions.

RobertBushman: /* Less Cynical */

2026-01-02T06:37:40Z

Less Cynical

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:37, 2 January 2026
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	I find it fascinating that Kant was working with Newtonian physics when he asserted this. Quantum mechanics and relativity came later, putting a grand exclamation mark on what Kant supposed.		I find it fascinating that Kant was working with Newtonian physics when he asserted this. Quantum mechanics and relativity came later, putting a grand exclamation mark on what Kant supposed.

	In Critique of Practical Reason, Kant said that we cannot observe god, the soul, ~~and~~ free will. Since we cannot observe them, science cannot say whether they exist or not. We are free to believe in them or not. Either position is entirely consistent with science and pure reason.		In Critique of Practical Reason, Kant said that we cannot observe god, the soul, or free will. Since we cannot observe them, science cannot say whether they exist or not. We are free to believe in them or not. Either position is entirely consistent with science and pure reason.

	This is where "practical reason" comes in. Kant argued:		This is where "practical reason" comes in. Kant argued:

RobertBushman: /* Less Cynical */

2026-01-02T06:36:46Z

Less Cynical

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:36, 2 January 2026
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	==== Less Cynical ====		==== Less Cynical ====
	In ~~the~~ prior book, Critique of Pure Reason, Kant says that our only way of experiencing the world is through our senses. Science can only ever reason about our observations of things, not about the things themselves.		In his prior book, Critique of Pure Reason, Kant says that our only way of experiencing the world is through our senses. Science can only ever reason about our observations of things, not about the things themselves.

	I find it fascinating that Kant was working with Newtonian physics when he asserted this. Quantum mechanics and relativity came later, putting a grand exclamation mark on what Kant supposed.		I find it fascinating that Kant was working with Newtonian physics when he asserted this. Quantum mechanics and relativity came later, putting a grand exclamation mark on what Kant supposed.

RobertBushman: /* Less Cynical */

2026-01-02T06:35:56Z

Less Cynical

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:35, 2 January 2026
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	That may sound familiar. A more simplified form is perhaps more common; "God may or may not exist. If he does, I don't want to go to hell, so I choose to believe."		That may sound familiar. A more simplified form is perhaps more common; "God may or may not exist. If he does, I don't want to go to hell, so I choose to believe."

	I got hung up on this for the past three months because it sounds like an obvious argument. But ~~that's~~ the ~~beauty of it~~: It wasn't obvious before Kant. It is obvious because of Kant.		I got hung up on this for the past three months because it sounds like an obvious argument. I wanted to see the deeper meaning in this legendary work of philosophy.

			But the legendary part is this: It wasn't obvious before Kant. It is obvious because of Kant.

	==== Minimalist ====		==== Minimalist ====

RobertBushman: /* Less Cynical */

2026-01-02T06:34:05Z

Less Cynical

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:34, 2 January 2026
Line 439:		Line 439:
	That may sound familiar. A more simplified form is perhaps more common; "God may or may not exist. If he does, I don't want to go to hell, so I choose to believe."		That may sound familiar. A more simplified form is perhaps more common; "God may or may not exist. If he does, I don't want to go to hell, so I choose to believe."

	I got hung up on this for the past three months because it sounds obvious. But that's the beauty of it: It wasn't obvious before Kant. It is obvious because of Kant.		I got hung up on this for the past three months because it sounds like an obvious argument. But that's the beauty of it: It wasn't obvious before Kant. It is obvious because of Kant.

	==== Minimalist ====		==== Minimalist ====

RobertBushman: /* Less Cynical */

2026-01-02T06:33:09Z

Less Cynical

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:33, 2 January 2026
Line 431:		Line 431:
	In Critique of Practical Reason, Kant said that we cannot observe god, the soul, and free will. Since we cannot observe them, science cannot say whether they exist or not. We are free to believe in them or not. Either position is entirely consistent with science and pure reason.		In Critique of Practical Reason, Kant said that we cannot observe god, the soul, and free will. Since we cannot observe them, science cannot say whether they exist or not. We are free to believe in them or not. Either position is entirely consistent with science and pure reason.

	This is where "practical reason" comes in:		This is where "practical reason" comes in. Kant argued:

	* In order to believe that our choices matter, we must - as a practical necessity - believe that we are free to choose our actions.		* In order to believe that our choices matter, we must - as a practical necessity - believe that we are free to choose our actions.

RobertBushman: /* Less Cynical */

2026-01-02T06:31:49Z

Less Cynical

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:31, 2 January 2026
Line 439:		Line 439:
	That may sound familiar. A more simplified form is perhaps more common; "God may or may not exist. If he does, I don't want to go to hell, so I choose to believe."		That may sound familiar. A more simplified form is perhaps more common; "God may or may not exist. If he does, I don't want to go to hell, so I choose to believe."

	I got hung up on this for the past three months because it sounds obvious. But that's the beauty of it: It wasn't obvious before Kant. It is obvious because of Kant~~. That is how influential his work is~~.		I got hung up on this for the past three months because it sounds obvious. But that's the beauty of it: It wasn't obvious before Kant. It is obvious because of Kant.

	==== Minimalist ====		==== Minimalist ====

RobertBushman: /* Less Cynical */

2026-01-02T06:31:19Z

Less Cynical

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:31, 2 January 2026
Line 439:		Line 439:
	That may sound familiar. A more simplified form is perhaps more common; "God may or may not exist. If he does, I don't want to go to hell, so I choose to believe."		That may sound familiar. A more simplified form is perhaps more common; "God may or may not exist. If he does, I don't want to go to hell, so I choose to believe."

	I got hung up on this for the past three months because it sounds so obvious. But that's the beauty of it: It wasn't obvious before Kant. It is obvious because of Kant. That is how influential his work is.		I got hung up on this for the past three months because it sounds obvious. But that's the beauty of it: It wasn't obvious before Kant. It is obvious because of Kant. That is how influential his work is.

	==== Minimalist ====		==== Minimalist ====

RobertBushman: /* Less Cynical */

2026-01-02T06:31:05Z

Less Cynical

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:31, 2 January 2026
Line 439:		Line 439:
	That may sound familiar. A more simplified form is perhaps more common; "God may or may not exist. If he does, I don't want to go to hell, so I choose to believe."		That may sound familiar. A more simplified form is perhaps more common; "God may or may not exist. If he does, I don't want to go to hell, so I choose to believe."

	I got hung up on this for the past three months because it sounds so ~~simplistic and~~ obvious. But that's the beauty of it: It wasn't obvious before Kant. It is obvious because of Kant. That is how influential his work is.		I got hung up on this for the past three months because it sounds so obvious. But that's the beauty of it: It wasn't obvious before Kant. It is obvious because of Kant. That is how influential his work is.

	==== Minimalist ====		==== Minimalist ====

RobertBushman: /* Less Cynical */

2026-01-02T06:30:45Z

Less Cynical

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:30, 2 January 2026
Line 439:		Line 439:
	That may sound familiar. A more simplified form is perhaps more common; "God may or may not exist. If he does, I don't want to go to hell, so I choose to believe."		That may sound familiar. A more simplified form is perhaps more common; "God may or may not exist. If he does, I don't want to go to hell, so I choose to believe."

	I got hung up on this for the past three months because it sounds so simplistic and obvious. But that's the beauty of it: It wasn't obvious before Kant. It is obvious because of Kant.		I got hung up on this for the past three months because it sounds so simplistic and obvious. But that's the beauty of it: It wasn't obvious before Kant. It is obvious because of Kant. That is how influential his work is.

	==== Minimalist ====		==== Minimalist ====