Criticised by Philosopher such as Hume, Kant and Aquinas
However, support from Plantinga and Malcolm
Resulted in Ontoloigcal Argument standing test of time and still widley acknowledged and powerful argument for existence of God
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Onto Argument is based upon human resoning
Comes from greek word 'ontos' - 'concerned with being'
Differs from Teleo/cosmo, as they are synthestic, inductive and a posteriori (uses empirical evidence)
Onto argument is
Deductive - reaches conslusions by following premises in logical order (deduces conclusion from premises)
A priori - based on the defintion of the word, in case on onto argument, defintion of the word God
Analytic - something is tru by defintion alone, needs no further explanation. Also known as tautology. e.g. a circle is round - not needed, as a circle is round by the defintion of the word circle. Apply to God, God is what he is by the defintion of the word God
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Argument arose during Christian Monastic period - Church forefront of society
French monk Anselm prayed for a short argument to prove the exsitence of God - known as the Proslogian
Anselm had always held faith in God, but found it a logical necessity to prove Gods existence.
Anselm used method of reductio ad absurdum - reduce something to absurdity
Anselm reduced the idea that God did not exist to absurdity
As Gods non-existence was absurd, then God must exist
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