The Ontological Argument
- Created by: Nikki
- Created on: 01-01-13 15:20
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- Ontological argument
- A priori argument
- 2 main contributors
- Anselm
- 'that than which nothing greater can be conceived'
- God exists in the mind because everyone, even non-belivers have a concept of him.
- He must also exist in reality because he is 'than than which...'
- God exists in the mind because everyone, even non-belivers have a concept of him.
- Argues that Gods existence is necessary
- Anselm believes we know three reasons that make God necessary
- 1. it can be conceived that something exists that cannot be thought not to exist
- 2.God must be such a thing
- 3.Because something that can be thought not to exist would be inferior to that which cannot
- Anselm believes we know three reasons that make God necessary
- Gaunilo: Opposed anselms argument
- If someone described to you the 'most perfect island', lost somewhere and untouched by man and then state it exists because of its perfection you'd be a fool to believe him.
- Not valid criticism
- wrong context
- Doesn't mention 'that than which nothing greater...'
- Islands do not have an intrinsic maximum, they can always be bettered
- Not valid criticism
- If someone described to you the 'most perfect island', lost somewhere and untouched by man and then state it exists because of its perfection you'd be a fool to believe him.
- Proslogion 2
- Descartes
- Developed Anselms argument
- God is 'a supremely perfect being'
- God exists because existence is a predicate of a perfect being so God must exist to avoid being self-contradictory
- God without the predicate of existence is illogical
- Like a triangle without 3 sides
- God without the predicate of existence is illogical
- Kant: Oppsosed Descartes
- Denying Gods existence is tantamount to denying that triangles have 3 sides, which is contradictory
- Kant says that dismissing a predicate AND its subject leaves you with no contradiction
- Seconds objection; 'existence is not a predicate'
- Saying it exists tells us nothing about it
- if 'x exists' tells us nothing about a property x has, 'x does not exist' denies that it has that property
- Saying it exists tells us nothing about it
- Denying Gods existence is tantamount to denying that triangles have 3 sides, which is contradictory
- Developed Anselms argument
- Anselm
- 'that than which nothing greater can be conceived'
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