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condition of the summum bonum。 This then must be possible； as well
as its object； since it is contained in the mand to promote the
latter。 Now； the perfect accordance of the will with the moral law
is holiness； a perfection of which no rational being of the sensible
world is capable at any moment of his existence。 Since；
nevertheless； it is required as practically necessary； it can only
be found in a progress in infinitum towards that perfect accordance；
and on the principles of pure practical reason it is necessary to
assume such a practical progress as the real object of our will。
Now； this endless progress is only possible on the supposition of an
endless duration of the existence and personality of the same rational
being （which is called the immortality of the soul）。 The summum bonum；
then； practically is only possible on the supposition of the
immortality of the soul； consequently this immortality； being
inseparably connected with the moral law； is a postulate of pure
practical reason （by which I mean a theoretical proposition； not
demonstrable as such； but which is an inseparable result of an
unconditional a priori practical law。
This principle of the moral destination of our nature； namely；
that it is only in an endless progress that we can attain perfect
accordance with the moral law； is of the greatest use； not merely
for the present purpose of supplementing the impotence of
speculative reason； but also with respect to religion。 In default of
it； either the moral law is quite degraded from its holiness； being
made out to be indulgent and conformable to our convenience； or else
men strain their notions of their vocation and their expectation to an
unattainable goal； hoping to acquire plete holiness of will； and so
they lose themselves in fanatical theosophic dreams； which wholly
contradict self…knowledge。 In both cases the unceasing effort to
obey punctually and thoroughly a strict and inflexible mand of
reason； which yet is not ideal but real； is only hindered。 For a
rational but finite being； the only thing possible is an endless
progress from the lower to higher degrees of moral perfection。 The
Infinite Being； to whom the condition of time is nothing； sees in this
to us endless succession a whole of accordance with the moral law； and
the holiness which his mand inexorably requires； in order to be
true to his justice in the share which He assigns to each in the
summum bonum； is to be found in a single intellectual intuition of the
whole existence of rational beings。 All that can be expected of the
creature in respect of the hope of this participation would be the
consciousness of his tried character； by which from the progress he
has hitherto made from the worse to the morally better； and the
immutability of purpose which has thus bee known to him； he may
hope for a further unbroken continuance of the same； however long
his existence may last； even beyond this life；* and thus he may
hope； not indeed here； nor in any imaginable point of his future
existence； but only in the endlessness of his duration （which God
alone can survey） to be perfectly adequate to his will （without
indulgence or excuse； which do not harmonize with justice）。
*It seems； nevertheless； impossible for a creature to have the
conviction of his unwavering firmness of mind in the progress
towards goodness。 On this account the Christian religion makes it e
only from the same Spirit that works sanctification； that is； this
firm purpose； and with it the consciousness of steadfastness in the
moral progress。 But naturally one who is conscious that he has
persevered through a long portion of his life up to the end in the
progress to the better； and this genuine moral motives； may well
have the forting hope； though not the certainty； that even in an
existence prolonged beyond this life he will continue in these
principles； and although he is never justified here in his own eyes；
nor can ever hope to be so in the increased perfection of his
nature； to which he looks forward； together with an increase of
duties； nevertheless in this progress which； though it is directed
to a goal infinitely remote； yet is in God's sight regarded as
equivalent to possession； he may have a prospect of a blessed
future； for this is the word that reason employs to designate
perfect well…being independent of all contingent causes of the
world； and which； like holiness； is an idea that can be contained only
in an endless progress and its totality； and consequently is never
fully attained by a creature。
V。 The Existence of God as a Postulate of Pure Practical Reason。
In the foregoing analysis the moral law led to a practical problem
which is prescribed by pure reason alone； without the aid of any
sensible motives； namely； that of the necessary pleteness of the
first and principle element of the summum bonum； viz。； morality；
and； as this can be perfectly solved only in eternity； to the
postulate of immortality。 The same law must also lead us to affirm the
possibility of the second element of the summum bonum； viz。； happiness
proportioned to that morality； and this on grounds as disinterested as
before； and solely from impartial reason； that is； it must lead to the
supposition of the existence of a cause adequate to this effect； in
other words； it must postulate the existence of God； as the
necessary condition of the possibility of the summum bonum （an
object of the will which is necessarily connected with the moral
legislation of pure reason）。 We proceed to exhibit this connection
in a convincing manner。
Happiness is the condition of a rational being in the world with
whom everything goes according to his wish and will； it rests；
therefore； on the harmony of physical nature with his whole end and
likewise with the essential determining principle of his will。 Now the
moral law as a law of freedom mands by determining principles；
which ought to be quite independent of nature and of its harmony
with our faculty of desire （as springs）。 But the acting rational being
in the world is not the cause of the world and of nature itself。 There
is not the least ground； therefore； in the