(2) Arguments for God- Ontological Argument Flashcards
When was Anslem of Cantenbury born?
1033
When did Anslem of Cantenbury die?
1109
What era did he live in?
The middle ages.
How can God be proven to exist?
by his definition, if God is defined there’s no doubt he exists.
What type of argument is the ontological argument?
A pirori and deductive.
What is God’s definition?
“God is a being than which nothing greater can be conceived.”
What does this definition imply?
If we cannot think of anything better than God, God must be the ultimate being we percieve him to be.
What is Psalm 14:1?
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God”.”
what does Psalm 14:1 mean?
To be the greatest you have to exist, but everyone can understand and believe “that” God exists.
What is Anselm’s answer in short?
P1: God is the greatest convievable being.
P2: It is greater to exist in reality than in minds, as it is undisputed that a necessary thing is greater than a contigent thing.
C: Therefore, God the most concievable being must exist in reality.
Who critises/mocks the ontological arguement?
Gaunilo, a French monk.
What is the criticism?
The perfect lost island.
If something can be concieved it must be the best. It makes no sense, how a subjective thing can become objective. It is silly to believe everyone must hqave the perfect illogical island somewhere in the world.
How does Anselm answer?
Thta unlike God, Gaunilo’s examples of an island is contingent. God is necessary. The argument does not work for something that is contingent as God is not contingent. Therefore the logic of a perfect lost island does not apply to God. As a simple matter could cause the island to not exist, whereas God cannot fail to exist as a necessary thing.
