arguments for the existence of god: the ontological arguement

Question 1

Who is the key philosopher behind the Ontological Argument?

Answer 1

Anselm

Question 2

Anselm’s argument is ‘a priori’. What does this mean?

Answer 2

An argument relying on logic not empirical experiences

Question 3

Anselm’s argument is ‘deductive’. What does this mean?

Answer 3

An argument aiming to give absolute proof. If the premises are true than the conclusions must be true.

-> P1 A=B
-> P2 B=C
then A must equal C

Question 4

Anselm’s argument are based on ‘analytical statements’. What does this mean?

Answer 4

A statement that is based on logic and true by definition, eg. a triangle has 3 sides

Question 5

Anselm’s argument are based on ‘subjects and predicate’. What does this mean?

Answer 5

Subject refers to who/what the sentence is about
Predicate gives information about the subject

The cat sat on the mat
-> Cat = subject
-> Sat on the Mat = predicate

Question 6

Anselm’s argument are based on ‘necessary things/truths’. What does this mean?

Answer 6

necessary…

things: things that could not possibly fail to exist (laws of maths for scientists and mathematicians)
truths: statement that could not possibly be wrong (a circle has no sides)

Question 7

What does Anselm state in his Proslogium 2? (his fool argument)