Arguments For God Using Reason Flashcards
What does the ontological argument claim to prove?
It claims to prove God’s existence using a priori means (without senses)
What is Saint Anselm’s ontological argument meant to be
A prayer
Psalm 14
“The fool says in his heart that there is no God”
What is both Anselm’s and atheist definition of God
- Both agree God exists in the mind
- Cant conceive anything greater
Whats Anselm’s V1 of his argument
P1: God exists as an idea in our imagination
P2: A being that exists in reality is greater than an imaginary being
P3: If God exists only in the mind, he wouldn’t be the greatest being
P4:Therefore God must exist in reality
Who is Gaunilo and why is it important
Gaunilo is a monk so he is the same religion as Anselm
This is important as there is no bias
What was Gaunilo’s analogy
The mythical island
What does his analogy say
If the perfect Island didn’t exist, it would be a contradiction to call it perfect since it doesn’t exist
Contingent meaning
Relies on something for its existence (island relies on water)
Necessary meaning
Doesn’t rely on anything. Cannot NOT exist
What is Anselm’s V2 of his argument
P1: It is possible to think of a contingent and necessary beings
P2: A necessary being is greater than a contingent one
P3: Since God is the greatest conceivable being, he must be necessary
P4: God cannot NOT exist
What does Descartes ontological argument say
- God is supremely perfect being
- A supremely perfect being contains perfect characteristics
- Existence is essential for perfectness
- God is necessary
Descartes was an innatist, what does this mean?
Already born with an understanding of God being perfect
What example does Descartes uses
The essence of a triangle is that it has angles equivalent to 180 degrees. Without this, it isn’t a triangle.
Same with God, existence is the essence of God
