Lecture
The Discourse of Divinity in Kantian Philosophy

Join us in celebrating Immanuel Kant and his lasting principles, this time with Simon P. L. Tjahjadi and moderator Ikhaputri Widiantini on the topic of the discourse of divinity in Kantian philosophy.

Thu, 29.08.2024
06:00 GoetheHaus Jakarta

Kant's philosophy is concerned with three fundamental questions: What can I know? What ought I to do? And what may I hope for?

The first question relates to the theory of knowledge (epistemology) about reality that can be understood by pure reason. The second question refers to the field of morals (ethics) and the philosophy of law within practical reason. The third question pertains to the unknown and the yet-to-come, opening dimensions of the future and the meaning of human life and the world. So, where does the issue of God fit in?

Simon P. L. Tjahjadi will discuss the discourse on divinity in Kant's philosophy. Kant sees the issue of God appearing in all three realms of human reason, but with varying levels of elaboration. This discourse on divinity is presented in Kant's thesis, encompassing the three fundamental questions mentioned at the beginning.

The thesis states: Although God is an idea of pure reason and, in this sense, not an object of human sensory knowledge (first question), through practical reason we can "experience" God through morals (second question), as the giver of absolute obligation to our conscience and the guarantor that our morality is not absurd, but leads to our eternal happiness (third question).

What is Kant's line of argumentation leading to this stance? What are the consequences and relevance of his philosophy for modern views of God? What strengths in his argumentation deserve appreciation? And what are its limitations?

The lecture will be moderated by Ikhaputri Widiantini.

Simon Petrus L. Tjahjadi
completed his master's in German Philosophy in Munich, Germany in 1997, with a thesis on Kant's Critique of Religion. In 2004, he completed his PhD in Modern Atheism at the Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt. In 2015-2018, he researched Japanese Culture and History in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nagasaki. In 2023, he studied Zen in Tokyo. Throughout his life, he has pursued Western Philosophy, especially German, Eastern Philosophy, especially Japanese philosophy, culture and history, and Nusantara philosophy, especially Javanese Ethics. Since 1997 until now, he has been a lecturer at the School of Philosophy (STF) Driyarkara.

Ikhaputri Widiantini
has been a lecturer for the Bachelor-level Philosophy Study Program at Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia, since 2007. Previously, she was responsible for educational projects at Yayasan Jurnal Perempuan, became the editor of Jurnal Perempuan from 2009-2011, and is still actively assisting as a guest editor at the said institution. In addition, she has also conducted many research and publications related to the themes of sexual violence, feminist aesthetics, and contemporary art.