The understanding of God by Kant and the contribution to the psychopathological definition of delusion

Abstract

The psychopathological phenomenon of delusion appears almost every day in the routine clinical practice. Although making the diagnosis usually seems clear and simple, the accurate definition of delusion is even now a serious challenge and controversial discussion. This article therefore investigates whether and to what extent the Kantian term of God and his argument for God's existence can make acontribution to the psychopathological definition of delusion. By analyzing Kant's primary literature, the special position of the predicate of existence is presented in order to give an explanation of Kant's term of God. Moreover, Kant's argument for the existence of God is elaborated in his critique of purely practical rationality. Finally, various approximations to a formal definition of delusion are proposed. It can be shown that there are numerous indications for aformal approach to characterize psychopathological delusion. Kant provides aformal logical explanation of the term of God; however, his proof of God is amoral practical one. Aformal aspect in the definition of delusion appears useful. Jasper's criterion of the impossibility of the content of delusion can be critically questioned in terms of being unnecessary. The formal logical aspect in the Kantian term of God, not his moral argument for proof of God can make a contribution to the psychopathological definition of delusion in form of adimension of the conditional.