Arguments From Reason Flashcards
Synthetic statements
Statements which require external (empirical) evidence to be proven true or false
Analytic statements
Statements which are true by definition - they contain the truth within the statement (a priori).
Predicate
Characteristic
Why did Kant say that statements about existence are synthetic and not analytic?
To prove God’s existence, you need external, synthetic evidence. Anselm presents this analytically.
Even though a triangle can have 3 sides (Descartes’ example), it doesn’t mean the triangle exists in reality.
Just because we have an idea of God, this does not mean he exists.
If he exists, then we can say that God is necessary (cannot not exist) - but if God does not exist then God does not exist necessarily.
Why does Kant think that existence is not a predicate?
To say that God exists adds nothing new to our understanding of God.
Example Kant used to illustrate his point on his criticism on Anselm.
Imagine 100 silver coins. The real coins don’t have any extra coins than 100 imaginary coins, so the existence of the coins adds nothing to the concept of the coins.
He is showing that whether or not the concept of God is actualised (God is a reality) cannot be resolved simply by adding ‘existence’ to God’s different predicates.
Linking his two criticisms together, Kant points out that having 100 real silver coins could be verified synthetically and could make a real difference to a person’s life.
Descartes’ ontological argument
1) God is a supremely perfect being
2) A supremely perfect being contains supremely perfect characteristics
3) Existence is an essential characteristic of a supremely perfect being
4) God’s existence is logically necessary. Therefore, God exists.
Descartes’ triangle and mountain
A triangle must have angles of 180 degrees to be a triangle.
The idea of a mountain cannot be separated from the idea of a valley.
