Freedom in front of grace: a comparison between Kant and Luther

Abstract

The influence that Luther and Protestantism in general made in Kant is undeniable. Nevertheless, it is worth noting some essential points, where the Kantian philosophy differs from the ideas held by the reformer. In this paper I would like to focus on one of these contrasting points: Freedom. On the one hand, Luther's position leads him to deny free will in mankind and to defend theological determinism. On the other hand, according to Kant, Freedom becomes the touchstone of his entire system, and the axis on which Pure Practical Reason turns. Departing from the notion of Evil that defends each of these thinkers, the main purpose of this paper is to review the controversy between Freedom and Grace comparing the theories of these two authors.