Arguments For The Existence Of God Based On Reason Flashcards
What is the ao1 spec for Ontological
Anselm, gaunilo’s criticisms, Kant’s criticisms
What is the ao2 spec for Ontological
A posterioiri Vs a priori, is existence a predicate, does Ontological argument justify belief, logical fallacies
What is a predicate
A property
What is an analytic statement
The predicate is contained in the definition
What is a synthetic statement
Provides additional information based on experience
Who was Anselm
11th century Italian Christian monk who became archbishop of Canterbury
What did Anselm write his Ontological argument in
Chapters 2 and 3 of proslogion, written in the form of a prayer, addressed to fellow christians
What does faith seeking understanding mean
Anselm’s idea that understanding is a consequence of faith
What is premise 1 of both Anselm’s formulations
God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived
What does the psalms say and how does Anselm use it
The fool says in his heart there is no God - to reject God we have to know what God is, and therefore know that he exists
What is proof by contradiction
Logical impossibility of contradiction, as if we accept God as the greatest being, it would be illogical to conclude he does not exist
What is anselms first formulation
2: things exist in the mind alone or in the mind and reality
3: it is greater to exist in the mind and reality than in the mind alone
Conclusion: God exists in the mind and reality
Who was gaunilo
Contemporary of Anselm, french Christian monk, believed in God but disagreed with Anselm
What was Gaunilo’s book
On behalf of the fool
What does gaunilo argue is a logical fallacy
Can’t define God into existence
What is Gaunilo’s example of an island
If Anselm’s argument worked, it would be able to apply to anything
When you replace God with island, you can see the absurdity
What is reductio ad absurdum with an example
Disproving an argument by showing the absurdity of following it through to a logical conclusion
E.g Gaunilo’s island
What is the example of unicorns
We can understand the concept of a unicorn without accepting they exist, similarly we can understand the definitions of God without accepting he exists
How does Anselm use a painting
The painting that exists in reality is far better than the idea in the mind of the painter
How does gaunilo respond to Anselm’s painting
There is a distinct difference between initial idea and final product, so the logic fails
What is Gaunilo’s gossip analogy
When someone hears gossip, they can picture the man though they do not know them, as they have experienced men before, we cannot picture God in our mind as we have never experienced him
How does gaunilo use gossip to explain that even if we could picture God in the mind, doesn’t mean he exists
The idea of the man doesn’t exist in reality because it’s gossip, so even if we have an idea of him in the mind, it is inaccurate and doesn’t mean he exists in our reality
How does Anselm respond to Gaunilo’s island
Accuses him of misplacing his logic because am island is contingent, but god is necessary and unique
How does Anselm respond to Gaunilo’s painting criticism
He took the analogy of the painting too literally, the analogy is only supposed to show coherence of his logic
What is anselms second forumalation
2: all things exist either contingently or necessarily
3: it is greater to exist necessarily
Conclusion: God exists necessarily
Who was Kant
18th century German philosopher and enlightenment thinker
Who was Descartes
17th century mathematician and philosopher, Kant responded to his Ontological argument
How did Descartes use a triangle example
God is a supremely perfect being containing supremely perfect characteristics, including existence - existence is a predicate of God in the same way a triangle has angles that add to 180
How does Descartes use tautology and contradiction
Saying God exists is a tautology (god, who exists, exists), saying he doesn’t is a contradiction (God who exists, doesn’t exist)
Why does Kant argue that existence is not a predicate
Predicates must add something to the description, which existence does not
E.g 100 coins in the mind are the same as 100 coins in reality
