Arguments For The Existence Of God Based On Reason

Question 1

What is the ao1 spec for Ontological

Answer 1

Anselm, gaunilo’s criticisms, Kant’s criticisms

Question 2

What is the ao2 spec for Ontological

Answer 2

A posterioiri Vs a priori, is existence a predicate, does Ontological argument justify belief, logical fallacies

Question 3

What is a predicate

Answer 3

A property

Question 4

What is an analytic statement

Answer 4

The predicate is contained in the definition

Question 5

What is a synthetic statement

Answer 5

Provides additional information based on experience

Question 6

Who was Anselm

Answer 6

11th century Italian Christian monk who became archbishop of Canterbury

Question 7

What did Anselm write his Ontological argument in

Answer 7

Chapters 2 and 3 of proslogion, written in the form of a prayer, addressed to fellow christians

Question 8

What does faith seeking understanding mean

Answer 8

Anselm’s idea that understanding is a consequence of faith

Question 9

What is premise 1 of both Anselm’s formulations

Answer 9

God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived

Question 10

What does the psalms say and how does Anselm use it

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is proof by contradiction

Answer 11

Logical impossibility of contradiction, as if we accept God as the greatest being, it would be illogical to conclude he does not exist

Question 12

What is anselms first formulation

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Who was gaunilo

Answer 13

Contemporary of Anselm, french Christian monk, believed in God but disagreed with Anselm

Question 14

What was Gaunilo’s book

Answer 14

On behalf of the fool

Question 15

What does gaunilo argue is a logical fallacy

Answer 15

Can’t define God into existence

Question 16

What is Gaunilo’s example of an island

Answer 16

If Anselm’s argument worked, it would be able to apply to anything
When you replace God with island, you can see the absurdity

Question 17

What is reductio ad absurdum with an example

Answer 17

Disproving an argument by showing the absurdity of following it through to a logical conclusion
E.g Gaunilo’s island

Question 18

What is the example of unicorns

Answer 18

We can understand the concept of a unicorn without accepting they exist, similarly we can understand the definitions of God without accepting he exists

Question 19

How does Anselm use a painting

Answer 19

The painting that exists in reality is far better than the idea in the mind of the painter

Question 20

How does gaunilo respond to Anselm’s painting

Answer 20

There is a distinct difference between initial idea and final product, so the logic fails

Question 21

What is Gaunilo’s gossip analogy

Answer 21

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

Question 22

How does gaunilo use gossip to explain that even if we could picture God in the mind, doesn’t mean he exists

Answer 22

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

Question 23

How does Anselm respond to Gaunilo’s island

Answer 23

Accuses him of misplacing his logic because am island is contingent, but god is necessary and unique

Question 24

How does Anselm respond to Gaunilo’s painting criticism

Answer 24

He took the analogy of the painting too literally, the analogy is only supposed to show coherence of his logic

Question 25

What is anselms second forumalation

Answer 25

2: all things exist either contingently or necessarily
3: it is greater to exist necessarily
Conclusion: God exists necessarily

Question 26

Who was Kant

Answer 26

18th century German philosopher and enlightenment thinker

Question 27

Who was Descartes

Answer 27

17th century mathematician and philosopher, Kant responded to his Ontological argument

Question 28

How did Descartes use a triangle example

Answer 28

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

Question 29

How does Descartes use tautology and contradiction

Answer 29

Saying God exists is a tautology (god, who exists, exists), saying he doesn’t is a contradiction (God who exists, doesn’t exist)

Question 30

Why does Kant argue that existence is not a predicate

Answer 30

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