I would start my postulating not with the immortality of the soul or the existence of God but by postulating the everlastingness of the community of rational beings whose actions are transparent to each other. (Well, okay: I would not exactly postulate such a belief: rather, I'd note that we tend to act as if we belonged to such a community, at least when we act virtuously). And prior to talking (as I believe Kant doe) of punishment / reward in the next life, I would consider how this everlasting community would (in virtue of its transparency) arrive at a right judgment of the value / disvalue of the actions of each of its members. A negative judgment by such a community would be a kind of ostracism. And that ostracism would itself be the punishment. And our sense of our own guilt would be our both anticipating and internalizing this ostracism: with this sense of guilt, vice becomes its own punishment. And our sense of being in friendship with others would be the way in which virtue becomes its own reward. God would be the head of such a community. And I would be able to access this community right now and (if I am immortal) in the next life as well.
Editing needed, but must cook supper.
Editing needed, but must cook supper.
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