oa ‘…wie man die Freiheit retten kann’

The idea of freedom in Kant reviewed at the suggestion of Karl Barth

In the debate between theology and philosophy, Barth’s dogmatic position may be seen as a polemic stand taken in the modern dispute about the freedom of the autonomous subject. Consequently, he especially joins issue with Kant, for whom, in his own terms, freedom constitutes the keystone of philosophy. Kant appears to secure the freedom of the civil subject in a philosophical discourse, which, as in a lawsuit, should inform those concerned of their cognitive powers, their ability to act and their future expectations. All this considered, this action can only be performed thanks to a confident faith in reason. By virtue of its freedom, the subject is allocated a domain in which it can exercise its rights and discharge its duties in a rational commonwealth, as a master sui generis. It is this ‘domanial autonomy’ which was criticized by Barth.