Anne Zagursky-Critique of Pure Reason (Kant)

Rationality of Jesus

In Immanuel Kant's book, A Critique of Pure Reason, he talks about the ability to understand Jesus in a different way than the traditional Christian view. He wants to make Jesus into a prototype or example of good life but not a hero or savior of any kind. Kant believes that humans must save themselves and that no one and nothing else can change a person's reality and make them better. People's choices impact who they are and therefore a person must choose to make his life better as well. Kant thinks that the true conversion and salvation happens to each individual internally just as it did to Jesus. The actual existence of Jesus is insignificant to Kant. He believes that Jesus’ significance comes from his perfect example of following the categorical imperative. The story of Jesus is a representation of how to live a moral life, according to Kant.

Kant believes in the "categorical imperative" which is like rules that must be obeyed no matter what. Kant says that Jesus is the best example of this obedience and that is waht makes him valuable. He doesn't care about the actuality of Jesus, just the best example of the categorical imperative. ). He says that this perfect moral being was not born but begotten of God and is that in which all other things are made. The duty of humans is to elevate themselves to the same level of moral obedience as that of Jesus. Jesus serves as a prototype or prime example of right moral living. He is the only person that is in full accord with the categorical imperative. Jesus, being God incarnate, had to lower himself to come to earth and set the example for other humans. He has no need to suffer since he has done nothing sinful or wrong; therefore he lowers himself to the status of humans in order to set the example for other humans in the world.

Humans are sinful and cannot raise themselves to the level of God; therefore God, through Jesus, must drop down to human level to provide a quality example. This example gives hope to humans that perhaps if they believe in God they will be able to overcome the same problems and obstacles that Jesus faced and also come through it victoriously. Jesus’ story gives hope to those who believe and help people follow the categorical imperative more closely. However, Jesus was more complex than Kant makes him out to be. He was a radical leader who did not always follow the rules and made the Jewish leaders uncomfortable and confused. Jesus had to be more than just a prototype if he actually existed. He would have been a liar if he was not also a savior and thus he would not be perfect role model for humans. Jesus must have been a savior if he was the epitome of perfection.