Philosophical Concept Of God Essay
Philosophy in itself is a very wide field. Many philosophers, individuals and writers have delved into the field of philosophy with all of them touching on a wide variety of subjects. For this reason, there exist different views, theories, philosophies and perspectives on some of these subjects to an extent where, despite some level of congruence, most of the philosophers have divergent views on different subjects. In light of the above, this paper will make a comparison and contrast between the thoughts and views of two philosophers namely George Berkeley and Immanuel Kant on the concept of God.
In his book The Three Dialogues, Berkeley advocates the philosophy of idealism, which is the theory that external perception exists within our ideas and minds and not as perceived objects themselves and hence no material object exists. Based on these principles, Berkeley states that idealism is conducive to the belief in God as the ruler of existence and the sole creator (Kant 58-60). He argues that all sensible qualities such as sound, taste, odor and touch arise from our perception of them in the real world. However if this perceptions were to be eradicated from our minds the sensible things they describe would no longer be in existence. For this reasons Berkeley asserts that sensible things are then a combination of perceptions existing in our minds with a clear difference between the things that exist and those we perceive. According to Berkeley, since ideas exist only in the mind and the ideas within it and not from the material objects, they must therefore come from another source, which is God the perceiver and creator, who is the ultimate provider of the ideas in existence in the mind. Berkeley finds idealism as the greatest path towards proving the existence of God (Pitcher 78-81).
On the other hand, Immanuel Kant claimed that there is no proof of God and that there was no need of God except as part of a system that is necessary to the workings of the human mind. He replaces God as the usual foundation for reality and replaces it with a set of conditions and terms the conditions as the source of all truth. According to Kant, there are three ideas of reason that is self, world, and God. To him God as the ideal reason does not satisfy the conditions and thus cannot be considered as objectively real. Kant philosophy identifies God as fiction and allows the concept of God to remain meaningful only in the context of cognition. Kant held the view that while the existence of God cannot be proved; we should come to terms with Gods existence through logical understanding since the world was not sufficient buy itself. He believed that an external power identified as God was a regulating necessity for morality and a source of meaning to life on earth (Sullivan 112 ).
Taking a critical look at both views on the concept of God, there appears to be a similarity where both Kant and Berkeley seem to agree on the notion that the world is not sufficient by itself and that an external power is at play hence giving meaning to existence. In contrast, Berkeley believes that God exists and is the ultimate provider of the ideas and perceptions that give meaning to life. He believes that through idealism the existence of God is and can be proven. On the other hand, Kant asserts that God does not exist in reality and more so, for the fact that it cannot be proved, this however sounds contradicting when he acknowledges that world is not sufficient by itself.
Putting into consideration, the views and perspectives mentioned above, in relation to the concept of God by both Berkeley and Kant. Berkeley’s point of view comes out as correct and more supported in theory and practicality. On a critical examination of his idealism theory, one begins to catch up on this argument in that whichever way man came into existence, the fact that man has a brain capable of giving birth to ideas and thoughts is proof enough that man is not just a creature of evolution. This fact points out to design and control by an ultimate external force or power in operation.
On another note, throughout the history of humankind the contemplation of the true meaning of life or existence has always gravitated towards the source and origin of this existence. The question from where does this existence originate from is differed upon but the realization that this existence does originate from somewhere is a common factor in this quest. It is therefore safe to believe that the existence of man, having a brain that gives birth to ideas and thoughts and seeks to comprehend the meaning of man’s existence is proof of the existence of an ultimate force that many call God.
In conclusion, in relation to the concept of God as viewed by both philosophers, God exists and his existence is and can be proven. The true meaning of life cannot be absent the existence of an external power or force that is the ultimate source of life or existence.
References
Kant, Immanuel. Critique of Pure Reason. San fransisco: Bohn, 1855.
Pappas, George Sotiros. Berkeley's Thought. New York: Cornell University Press, 2000.
Pitcher, George. Berkeley. London: Routledge, 1977.
Sullivan, By Roger J. Immanuel Kant's Moral Theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.