Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Heliocentrism, Morality, Repulsion

As has been previously argued here, the Copernican thesis that Kant conceives as analogous to his Epistemological inversion is that of the Earth spinning on its axis, not that of the Earth orbiting the Sun, as the standard interpretation has it.  However, that argument does not preclude completely the influence of the Heliocentric image on Kant's doctrine, just that it is not part of any 'revolution'.  For, Heliocentrism prevails in ancient Philosophy, not as an Astronomical thesis, but as a metaphor for Morality, i. e. the Sun is the image of the 'Good' for Plato--immobile, like all Platonic Forms, with respect to which any behavior that it can effect is transient.  Likewise, Kant's principle of Pure Practical Reason is the fixed source of virtuous conduct.  So, the Heliocentric influence on Kant's Moral doctrine is directly inherited, not mediated by a Copernican inversion.  Now, the emanatory power of the Sun can be classified in Kant's system as a 'repulsive' force.  Hence, his Practical Reason can likewise be conceived as a repulsive force.

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