PL-902 © Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals
Antinomy of Pure Reason
According to Kant, an antinomy is a dialectical opposition between the unconditioned world and
the conditioned world, between the transcendental world and the phenomenon world. An antinomy
is basically a conflict between the phenomenon world and the noumenon world. Kant regards this
conflict as an antinomy and he claims that reason can never resolve this antinomy. According to
Kant, This idea of reason can therefore do no more than prescribe a rule to the regressive synthesis
in the series of conditions; and in accordance with this rule the synthesis must proceed from the
conditioned, through all subordinate conditions, up to the unconditioned. Yet it can never reach
this goal, for the absolutely unconditioned is not to be met with In experience. Kant says that there
are four antinomies of pure reason and each antinomy are of two types. They are- thesis with
supporting argument, and an antithesis with supporting argument. By combining both the thesis
and the antithesis, we get an antinomy.
First Antinomy:
Thesis: The world has a beginning and is limited in space.
Antithesis: The world has no beginning and not limited is space.
Second Antinomy:
Thesis: Every composite substance or thing of the world is made up of simple parts.
Antithesis: There is no simple parts, every thing is complex.
Third Antinomy:
Thesis: There is freedom in the world.
Antithesis: There is no freedom. Everything in the world is determined by the cause and effect
relationship.
Fourth Antithesis:
Thesis: There is a author in the world.
Antithesis: There is no such author in the world.
Kant says, both the thesis and the antithesis are equal importants, but both are not same & correct.
Prepared by:
G Bhattacharjee, Research Scholar, TU
