About the conference
For Kant, philosophy of religion is a topic of paramount importance. He addresses it particularly in the writing Religion within the Limits of Reason alone (1793). In the spirit of the Enlightenment, Kant vehemently opposes all forms of speculative exuberance, superstition, spiritual fanaticism and revelation-based dogmatism. Instead, Kant attempts to limit religion to that which can be defended by the means of reason. According to Kant, religious rules and revealed commandments are only philosophically acceptable to the extent that they can be reconciled with the demands of reason and morality. For example, there is no room for belief in miracles (RGV VI.84鈥�89). This immediately raises the question: are philosophical efforts to radically rationalise religions and reduce them to a reasonable moral foundation, beyond all differences, reasonable themselves?
The conference will pursue a number of key scholarly objectives. Primarily, they include:
- Analysis of Kant's understanding of religion (i.e., the significance of the distinction between 鈥渁 religion of devine service鈥� and 鈥渁 purely moral religion鈥� as well as the distinction between 鈥渆cclesiastical faith鈥� and 鈥減ure religious faith鈥�).
- The issue of the connection between the philosophy of religion and the philosophy of history in Kant's philosophy (because by linking these issues, it becomes possible to understand human history as a process in which we are dealing with progress).
- The question of the political significance of religion, as expressed in Kant's writings (e.g. his view that 鈥渞eligion is a primary political need鈥� [AA VII, 11]), which has been insufficiently considered.
- Habermas's view of the relationship between faith and reason, which is much discussed today.
- The seemingly paradoxical statements of Kant, who on the one hand says: 鈥渕orality [...] is in need neither of the idea of another being above him [the human being] in order that he recognise his duty, nor, that it observe it, of an incentive other than the law itself鈥� (VI, 3); on the other hand, he says: 鈥淢orality [...] inevitably leads to religion鈥� (AA VI, 6).
- The extremely difficult questions about the philosophical value of Kant's analyses of Judaism in the Religionsschrift, as well as the questions about the interpretations of Kant's views themselves, and to answer them reliably.
The conference programme and detailed information are available on the organisers' website 鈥�
Organisational information
Meeting venues:
- 14 November 2025 (3:00 p.m. 鈥� 8:00 p.m.) 鈥� Juliusz Kindermann鈥檚 Palace, Piotrkowska 137/139, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodz Branch
- 15.-16 November 2025 (9:00 a.m. 鈥� 6:00 p.m.) 鈥� ul. Williama H. Lindleya 3/5, Prof. Ija Lazari-Paw艂owska Assembly Hall, Institute of Philosophy, 3rd floor
Organisers
- Department of Ethics, 91滴滴 in cooperation with Prof. Christoph Horn from the Institute of Philosophy, University of Bonn
- Committee of Ethics at the Lodz Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences
- Kant Gesellschaft e. V.
- Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Warsaw
Information: Institute of Philosophy, 91滴滴