Ontological Argument
- Created by: Beth Millward
- Created on: 08-06-15 08:53
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- Ontological Argument
- a priori
- argument based on logic and reason
- analytic
- based upon definitions of words
- characteristic is entailed in the definition
- e.g. a tricycle has 3 wheels
- characteristic is entailed in the definition
- based upon definitions of words
- reductio ad absurdum
- God exists and it is absurd to think he doesn't
- promotes biblical, traditional view of God
- rational
- proponents
- St. Anslem
- definition of God - 'that than which nothing greater can be conceived
- if you believe in and accept the definition, then argument can work and make sense
- if you do not believe in the definition, the argument will be rejected
- even those who do not believe in God must have a definition of him to know that he does not exist
- assumptions without proof
- perfection and existence
- existence is just as important as goodness and love
- for something to be perfect it must exist
- analogy of the painter
- what exists and what can be seen is better than what simply remains in the mind
- as God is so great and perfect, for him to be perfect he must exist
- since no being has such qualities, only God exists
- definition of God - 'that than which nothing greater can be conceived
- Rene Descartes
- triangle
- predicate of a triangle is that it has 3 sides
- predicate of God is that he is perfect
- for something to be perfect it must exist
- predicate of God is that he is perfect
- just as we cannot imagine a triangle without 3 sides we cannot imagine an imperfect God
- each cannot exist outside of its predicate
- predicate of a triangle is that it has 3 sides
- triangle
- Alvin Plantinga
- must be a number of possible worlds including our own
- if God's existence is necessary, he must exist in all possible worlds, with all of his qualities
- God is maximally great and maximally excellent therefore he can exist in every world with these qualities
- criticisms
- possibility not actuality of God existing
- if there is maximum greatness there could be maximum evil
- God's omnipotence not exclusive
- a being as such with opposite intentions could exist
- God's omnipotence not exclusive
- criticisms
- God is maximally great and maximally excellent therefore he can exist in every world with these qualities
- if God's existence is necessary, he must exist in all possible worlds, with all of his qualities
- must be a number of possible worlds including our own
- St. Anslem
- a priori
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