The Ontological argument
- Created by: Banana123456789
- Created on: 16-04-18 22:08
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- Ontological argument
- Anselm
- It is non-sensicle to argue that God does not exist
- A priori
- "Fools say in their heart, there is no God" - in order to reject it, you have to have a concept of what God is.
- God is the greatest possible being of which can be conceived - everyone agrees with this definition.
- To be the greatest - must exist in both reality and in the mind - necessary existence is part of God's definition.
- Gaunilo
- Island analogy - anyone can think of the perfect island. - Island does not have to exist to be the greatest.
- Anselm replies:
- God is the greatest BEING (necessary), not the greatest Island (contingent).
- Not comparing similar things
- God is the greatest BEING (necessary), not the greatest Island (contingent).
- Plantinga
- Suggests an argument Anslem could have used:if we though of perfect island - no limit, 'intrinsic Maximum' to things on it.
- God is 'maximally great'.
- Aquinas
- Thought Anselm's argument was too simplistic - we can't have an understanding of God.
- Descartes
- "God is a supremely perfect being"
- Must have all attributes of perfection - goodness, eternal, existence.
- God and existence are inseparable, like A triangle and three sides.
- Gassendi
- Existence is not an element of perfection - not an attribute.
- Russell
- Does not matter is the definition of God is true or not if God does not exist.
- Kant
- Just because we can define something, does not mean it exists.
- God and existence don't come together - we can think of the possibility of God not existing.
- Malcolm
- God's existence is either impossible or necessary - it is not impossible - so it must be necessary.
- It suggests that Gods existence is possible, not necessary.
- Anselm
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