The Ontological Argument

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  • The Ontological Argument
    • Ontos - Greek for 'being'
    • Anselm of Canterbury
      • God is "that than which nothing greater can be concieved"
        • "you can't imagine anything greater than God"
          • "God is perfect in every way"
      • If God is perfect in every way, he must exist in reality.
        • If he only existed in the mind, we could imagine a more perfect God.
          • This more perfect God would therefore exist in both the mind, and in reality.
      • If God is "that which nothing greater can be concieved", then he must exist in reality.
        • If he existed only in the mind, then you could imagine an even greater being.
        • This is similar to the idea of a painter: the painting first exists in the mind of the painter. From his mind, the painting is created.
          • If the painter imagined a better painting than the one he created, then he would have created that better painting, than the one he created in the first place.
      • ANSELM'S ARGUMENTS
        • ANSELM'S FIRST ARGUMENT
          • 1- God is the greatest possible being which can be concieved.
            • 2- God may exist either in the mind alone, or in reality as well.
              • 3- Something which exists in reality and in the mind, is greater than something which exists just as an idea in the mind alone.
              • CONCLUSION: God must exist in reality and in the mind.
                • 3- Something which exists in reality and in the mind, is greater than something which exists just as an idea in the mind alone.
                • 1- God is the greatest possible being which can be concieved.
                  • 2- God may exist either in the mind alone, or in reality as well.
                    • CONCLUSION: God must exist in reality and in the mind.
                    • "God is that which nothing greater can be concieved"
              • "God is that which nothing greater can be concieved"
            • Painter analogy
          • ANSELM'S SECOND ARGUMENT
            • 1- God is that being nothing greater than chich can be thought of.
              • 2- Something which cannot be thought not to exist (a necessary being) is greater than anything which can be thought not to exist (a contingent being)
                • CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is impossible to think that this being (God) cannot exist.
                  • 1- God is that being nothing greater than chich can be thought of.
                    • 2- Something which cannot be thought not to exist (a necessary being) is greater than anything which can be thought not to exist (a contingent being)
                      • CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is impossible to think that this being (God) cannot exist.
                        • SYNOPTIC LINK WITH AQUINAS' THIRD WAY
                          • ANSELM'S SECOND ARGUMENT
                            • It has been argued that Anselm's second argument was aimed at believers as proof that the existence of God is rational.
                          • Aquinas suggests that all beings are contingent on this necessary being which created the universe, which is seen to be God.
                  • SYNOPTIC LINK WITH AQUINAS' THIRD WAY
                    • Aquinas suggests that all beings are contingent on this necessary being which created the universe, which is seen to be God.
            • It has been argued that Anselm's second argument was aimed at believers as proof that the existence of God is rational.
        • "Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God"" - Psalm 14:1
          • Even athiests have an idea of God existing in their minds.
      • If God is "that which nothing greater can be concieved", then he must exist in reality.
        • If he existed only in the mind, then you could imagine an even greater being.
        • This is similar to the idea of a painter: the painting first exists in the mind of the painter. From his mind, the painting is created.
          • If the painter imagined a better painting than the one he created, then he would have created that better painting, than the one he created in the first place.
      • A priori argument
        • By analysing the word God it will be obvious that God exists, says Anselm.
      • Deductive argument
        • Premises prove the conclusion
        • The Ontological Argument is the only deductive argument for the existence for God.
          • Therefore, God's existence can be shown to be self-evident by analysing the word God.
            • By analysing the word God it will be obvious that God exists, says Anselm.
            • In the Ontological Argument, Anselm says that the predicate is contained in the subject.
              • Essentially, existence is a predicate of God. (it is a property or quality of God's nature)
      • Analytic argument
        • Once we analyse the definition of the term, we will see that God exists.
    • Reductio ad absurdum
      • Reduction to absurdity
      • Anselm of Canterbury
        • God is "that than which nothing greater can be concieved"
          • "you can't imagine anything greater than God"
            • "God is perfect in every way"
        • If God is perfect in every way, he must exist in reality.
          • If he only existed in the mind, we could imagine a more perfect God.
            • This more perfect God would therefore exist in both the mind, and in reality.
        • ANSELM'S ARGUMENTS
          • ANSELM'S FIRST ARGUMENT
            • Painter analogy
        • "Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God"" - Psalm 14:1
          • Even athiests have an idea of God existing in their minds.

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