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existence； but only in the endlessness of his duration （which God
alone can survey） to be perfectly adequate to his will （without
indulgence or excuse； which do not harmonize with justice）。
*It seems； nevertheless； impossible for a creature to have the
conviction of his unwavering firmness of mind in the progress
towards goodness。 On this account the Christian religion makes it e
only from the same Spirit that works sanctification； that is； this
firm purpose； and with it the consciousness of steadfastness in the
moral progress。 But naturally one who is conscious that he has
persevered through a long portion of his life up to the end in the
progress to the better； and this genuine moral motives； may well
have the forting hope； though not the certainty； that even in an
existence prolonged beyond this life he will continue in these
principles； and although he is never justified here in his own eyes；
nor can ever hope to be so in the increased perfection of his
nature； to which he looks forward； together with an increase of
duties； nevertheless in this progress which； though it is directed
to a goal infinitely remote； yet is in God's sight regarded as
equivalent to possession； he may have a prospect of a blessed
future； for this is the word that reason employs to designate
perfect well…being independent of all contingent causes of the
world； and which； like holiness； is an idea that can be contained only
in an endless progress and its totality； and consequently is never
fully attained by a creature。
V。 The Existence of God as a Postulate of Pure Practical Reason。
In the foregoing analysis the moral law led to a practical problem
which is prescribed by pure reason alone； without the aid of any
sensible motives； namely； that of the necessary pleteness of the
first and principle element of the summum bonum； viz。； morality；
and； as this can be perfectly solved only in eternity； to the
postulate of immortality。 The same law must also lead us to affirm the
possibility of the second element of the summum bonum； viz。； happiness
proportioned to that morality； and this on grounds as disinterested as
before； and solely from impartial reason； that is； it must lead to the
supposition of the existence of a cause adequate to this effect； in
other words； it must postulate the existence of God； as the
necessary condition of the possibility of the summum bonum （an
object of the will which is necessarily connected with the moral
legislation of pure reason）。 We proceed to exhibit this connection
in a convincing manner。
Happiness is the condition of a rational being in the world with
whom everything goes according to his wish and will； it rests；
therefore； on the harmony of physical nature with his whole end and
likewise with the essential determining principle of his will。 Now the
moral law as a law of freedom mands by determining principles；
which ought to be quite independent of nature and of its harmony
with our faculty of desire （as springs）。 But the acting rational being
in the world is not the cause of the world and of nature itself。 There
is not the least ground； therefore； in the moral law for a necessary
connection between morality and proportionate happiness in a being
that belongs to the world as part of it； and therefore dependent on
it； and which for that reason cannot by his will be a cause of this
nature； nor by his own power make it thoroughly harmonize； as far as
his happiness is concerned； with his practical principles。
Nevertheless； in the practical problem of pure reason； i。e。； the
necessary pursuit of the summum bonum； such a connection is postulated
as necessary： we ought to endeavour to promote the summum bonum；
which； therefore； must be possible。 Accordingly； the existence of a
cause of all nature； distinct from nature itself and containing the
principle of this connection； namely； of the exact harmony of
happiness with morality； is also postulated。 Now this supreme cause
must contain the principle of the harmony of nature； not merely with a
law of the will of rational beings； but with the conception of this
law； in so far as they make it the supreme determining principle of
the will； and consequently not merely with the form of morals； but
with their morality as their motive； that is； with their moral
character。 Therefore； the summum bonum is possible in the world only
on the supposition of a Supreme Being having a causality corresponding
to moral character。 Now a being that is capable of acting on the
conception of laws is an intelligence （a rational being）； and the
causality of such a being according to this conception of laws is
his will； therefore the supreme cause of nature； which must be
presupposed as a condition of the summum bonum is a being which is the
cause of nature by intelligence and will； consequently its author；
that is God。 It follows that the postulate of the possibility of the
highest derived good （the best world） is likewise the postulate of the
reality of a highest original good； that is to say； of the existence
of God。 Now it was seen to be a duty for us to promote the summum
bonum； consequently it is not merely allowable； but it is a
necessity connected with duty as a requisite； that we should
presuppose the possibility of this summum bonum； and as this is
possible only on condition of the existence of God； it inseparably
connects the supposition of this with duty； that is； it is morally
necessary to assume the existence of God。
It must be remarked here that this moral necessity is subjective；
that is； it is a want； and not objective； that is； itself a duty；
for there cannot be a duty to suppose the existence of anything （since
this concerns only the theoretical employment of reason）。 Moreover； it
is not meant by this that it is necessary to suppose the existence
of God as a basis of all obligation in general （for this rests； as has
been sufficiently proved； simply on the autonomy of reason itself）。
What belongs to duty here is only the endeavour to realize and promote
the summum bonum in the world； the possibility of which can
therefore be postulated； and as our reason finds it not conceivable
except on the supposition of a supreme intelligence； the admission
of this existence is therefore connected with the consciousness of our
duty； although the admission itself belongs to the domain of
speculative reason。 Considered in respect of this alone； as a
principle of explanation； it may be called a hypothesis； but in
reference to the intelligibility of an object given us by the moral
law （the summum bonum）； and consequently of a requirement for
practical purposes； it may be called faith； that is to say a pure
rational faith； since pure reason （both in its theoretical and
practical use） is the sole source from which it springs。
From this deduction it is now intelligible why the Greek schools
could never attain the solution of their problem of the practical
possibility of the summum bonum； because they made the rule of the use
which the will of man makes of his freedom the sole and sufficient
ground of this possibility； thinking that they had no need for that
purpose of the existence of God。 No doubt they were so far right
that they established the principle of morals of itself
independently of this postulate； from the relation of reason only to
the will； and consequently made it the supreme practical condition
of the summum bonum； but it was not therefore the whole condition of
its possibility。 The Epicureans had indeed assumed as the supreme
principle of morality a wholly false one； namely that of happiness；
and had substituted for a law a maxim of arbitrary choice according to
every man's inclination； they proceeded； however； consistently
enough in this； that they degraded their summum bonum likewise； just
in proportion to the meanness of their fundamental principle； and
looked for no greater happiness than can be attained by human prudence
（including temperance and moderation of the inclinations）； and this as
we know would be scanty enough and would be very different according
to circumstances； not to mention the exceptions that their maxims must
perpetually admit and which make them incapable of being laws。 The
Stoics； on the contrary； had chosen their supreme practical
principle quite rightly； making virtue the condition of the summum
bonum； but when they represented the degree of virtue required by
its pure law as fully attainable in this life； they not only
strained the moral powers of the man whom they called the wise
beyond all the limits of his nature； and assumed a thing that
contradicts all our knowledge of men； but also and principally they
would not allow the second element of the summum bonum； namely；
happiness； to be properly a special object of human desire； but made
their wise man； like a divinity in his consciousness of the excellence
of his person； wholly independent of nature （as regards his own
contentment）； they exposed him indeed to the evils of life； but made
him not subject to them （at the same time representing him also as
free from moral evil）。 They thus； in fact； left out the second element
of the summum bonum namely； personal happiness； placing it solely in
action and satisfaction with one's own personal worth； thus
including it in the consciousness of being morally minded； in which
they Might have been sufficiently refuted by the voice of their own
nature。
The doctrine of Christianity；* even if we do not yet consider it
as a religious doctrine； gives； touching this point； a conception of
the summum bonum （the kingdom of God）； which alone satisfies the
strictest demand of practical reason。 The moral law is holy
（unyielding） and demands holiness of morals； although all the moral
perfection to which man can attain is still only virtue； that is； a
rightful disposition arising from respect for the law； implying
consciousness of a constant propensity to transgression； or at least a
want of purity； that is； a mixture of many spurious （not moral）
motives of obedience to the law； consequently a self…esteem bined
with humility。 In respect； then； of the holiness which the Christian
law requires； this leaves the creature nothing but a progress in
infinitum； but for that very reason it justifies him in hoping for
an endless duration of his existence。 The worth of a character
perfectly accordant with the moral law is infinite； since the only
restriction on all possible happiness in the judgement of a wise and
all powerful distributor of it is the absence of conformity of
rational beings to their duty。 But the moral law of itself does not
promise any happiness； for according to our conceptions of an order of
nature in general； this is not necessarily connected with obedience to
the law。 Now Christian morality supplies this defect （of the second
indispensable element of the summum bonum） by representing the world
in which rational beings devote themselves with all their soul to
the moral law； as a kingdom of God； in which nature and morality are
brought into a harmony foreign to each of itself； by a holy Author who
makes the derived summum bonum possible。 Holiness of life is
prescribed to them as a rule even in this life； while the welfare
proportioned to it； namely； bliss； is represented as attainable only
in an eternity； because the former must always be the pattern of their
conduct in every state； and progress towards it is already possible
and necessary in this life； while the latter； under the name of
happiness； cannot be attained at all in this world （so far as our
own power is concerned）； and therefore is made simply an object of
hope。 Nevertheless； the Christian principle of morality itself is
not theological （so as to be heteronomy）； but is autonomy of pure
practical reason； since it does not make the knowledge of God and
His will the foundation of these laws； but only of the attainment of
the summum bonum； on condition of following these laws； and it does
not even place the proper spring of this obedience in the desired
results； but solely in the conception of duty； as that of which the
faithful observance alone constitutes the worthiness to obtain those
happy consequences。
*It is monly held that the Christian precept of morality has no
advantage in respect of purity over the moral conceptions of the
Stoics； the distinction between them is； however； very obvious。 The
Stoic system made the consciousness of strength of mind the pivot on
which all moral dispositions should turn； and although its disciples
spoke of duties and even defined them very well； yet they placed the
spring and proper determining principle of the will in an elevation of
the mind above the lower springs of the senses； which owe their
power only to weakness of mind。 With them therefore； virtue was a sort
of heroism in the wise man raising himself above the animal nature
of man； is sufficient for Himself； and； while he prescribes duties
to others； is himself raised above them； and is not subject to any
temptation to transgress the moral law。 All this； however； they
could not have done if they had conceived this law in all its purity
and strictness； as the precept of the Gospel does。 When I give the
name idea to a perfectio