The Only Possible Argument in Support of a Demonstration of the Existence of God

The Only Possible Argument in Support of a Demonstration of the Existence of God (German: Der einzig mögliche Beweisgrund zu einer Demonstration des Daseins Gottes) is a book by Immanuel Kant, published in 1763. It was published during the earlier period of Kant's philosophy, often referred to as the "pre-critical" period, during which he expressed little doubt about the possibility of rational metaphysics as conducted in the Leibnizian-Wolffian philosophical system which dominated German philosophy during that time. Kant later came to view this period of his philosophical career as a "dogmatic slumber".

The Only Possible Argument in Support of a Demonstration of the Existence of God

German edition published in Leipzig in 1911
Author	Immanuel Kant
Original title	Der einzig mögliche Beweisgrund zu einer Demonstration des Daseins Gottes
Language	German
Subject	Religion
Published	1763
Media type	Print

Contents

In The Only Possible Argument, Kant questions both the ontological argument for God (as proposed by Saint Anselm) and the argument from design. Kant argues that the internal possibility of all things presupposes some existence:

Accordingly, there must be something whose nonexistence would cancel all internal possibility whatsoever. This is a necessary thing.

Kant then argues that this necessary thing must have all the characteristics commonly ascribed to God. Therefore, God necessarily exists. This a priori step in Kant's argument is followed by a step a posteriori, in which he establishes the necessity of an absolutely necessary being. He argues that matter itself contains the principles which give rise to an ordered universe, and this leads us to the concept of God as a Supreme Being, which "embraces within itself everything which can be thought by man." "God includes all that is possible or real."^[1]: 141

Reception

"[T]he very substantial and favourable review published by Mendelssohn ... was responsible for establishing Kant's reputation in Germany as a major philosopher."^{[2]: page lx}

Citations

1. Manfred Kuehn (2001). Kant: A Biography. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-49704-3.
2. David Walford, ed. (1992). "Introductions to the translations". Theoretical Philosophy, 1755-1770. The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Immanuel Kant. Translated by Walford, David. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. xlix–lxxiv. ISBN 0-521-53170-5.

References

• Immanuel Kant (1799). "The Only Possible Argument for the Demonstration of the Existence of God". In Jakob Sigismund Beck (ed.). Essays and Treatises on Moral, Political, Religious and Various Philosophical Subjects. Vol. 2. Translated by Jakob Sigismund Beck. London: William Richardson. pp. 227–366. The first English translation of this work, originally published in 1797, is in a two volume collection of translations of the works of Kant. This 1799 edition is available in a photocopy published in 1993 by Thoemmes Press of Bristol, England, ISBN 1-85506-179-1
• Immanuel Kant (1979). Gordon Treash (ed.). The One Possible Basis for a Demonstration of the Existence of God. Translated by Gordon Treash. New York: Abaris Books.
• Immanuel Kant (1992). "The Only Possible Argument In Support of a Demonstration of the Existence of God". In David Walford (ed.). Theoretical Philosophy, 1755-1770. The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Immanuel Kant. Translated by David Walford. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 107–201. ISBN 0-521-53170-5.