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Kant The Buddhist: An Analysis Of Kantian Ethics, Metaphysics, And Philosophy Of Religion In The Context Of Christianity And Buddhism, Whitney Grimm

Honors Program Theses

This thesis analyzes Kantian ethics, metaphysics, and philosophy of religion within the context of Christianity and Buddhism. The first part of the paper is dedicated to an exegesis of Kant’s ethical theory and his philosophy of religion. The second part of the paper presents arguments for why Buddhism is closer to Kant’s ideal religion than Christianity. Specifically, this latter section analyzes Kant’s necessary postulates for pure practical reason within the context of each religion. The conclusion of this thesis is that Buddhism better aligns with Kant’s ideal religion with regard to both metaphysics and the ideal goal of religion: cultivating …