The Antinomy of Practical Reason as absurdum practicum

Abstract

The antinomies of pure reason play a significant role in Kant’s critical system. The conflict of reason with itself woke Kant up from his dogmatic slumber and led him to the construction of his transcendental idealism. However, the antinomies of practical reason have not occupied the same place as those of reason in its speculative use. Actually, many commentators of Kant’s critical philosophy consider that there is no antinomy of practical reason at all. The aim of this article is to show that there is an antinomy of practical reason. Particularly, we will show why the antinomy of practical reason should be understood under the light of the Kantian concept of absurdum practicum.

Keywords: Kant, practical antinomy, absurdum practicum.