CH1.4 Arguments based on reason Flashcards
what are a posteriori arguments?
arguments which draw conclusions based on observation through experience
what does ontological mean?
to do with existence
what are a priori arguments?
arguments which draw conclusions through the use of reason
what does contingent mean?
dependent on other things
what is meant by necessary existence?
existence which does not depend on anything else
is the ontological argument a priori or a posteriori?
it is a priori
-this means that it is working from first principles, pure conceptual truth and definitions in an attempt to demonstrate the existence of God
-it is also a deductive argument, using logic rather than depending on the evidence of sense experience
according the the ontological argument, almost everything which exists does so in a what way?
does so in a contingent way; it depends upon other factors.
-we, as individuals, are contingent beings, because we would not exist if our parents had not existed before us, and we would not continue to exist if we had no food or water or oxygen
who was Anselm?
he was an Archbishop of Canterbury and a Benedictine monk
-he produced an ontological argument from the perspective of ‘faith seeking understanding’ rather than in an attempt to convert unbelievers; he was not trying to convince people that god really exists despite their doubts, but was trying to explore, as a Christian, what faith in god is all about
in what book does Anselm set out his ontological argument?
in Proslogion
What is Anselm’s ontological argument?
- ’ god is that than which nothing greater can be thought’
- ’ a real existent being would be greater than an imaginary, illusory being’
- ’ therefore, the concept of god is surpassed by an actual, existent god
—god is understood to be the highest sum of all perfections, where absolutely nothing could ever surpass god in any way.
—Anselm argued that if we have an idea of a god who is perfect in ever way, where nothing could possibly be greater, then this god must exist in reality. This is because a god who just exists merely in our heads, as something we imagined to be greater but did not actually exist, would be inferior to a real god - and we have already agreed that god cannot be inferior to anything in any way. So god must exist and be that real god, in order to meet our definition.
what is an analytical proposition?
one which is true by definition
-so Anselm, in his ontological argument, was claiming that the statement ‘God exists’ is analytical - in other words, that the concept of God includes the concept of existence, and without existence, the term god would not apply
what is a synthetic proposition?
one which adds something to our understanding, beyond the definition of the word, and we need more than just deduction to know whether or not it is true - we also need experience
who is Gaunilo?
he was a French monk and a contemporary of Anslem
-he was the first to raise objections to Anselm’s idea that god exists by definition
-Gaunilo was also a Christian and believed in god, but he thought that Anselm’s argument was not logical and, therefore, needed to be refuted
how did Gaunilo attempt to show the flaws in Anselm’s logic?
-Gaunilo claimed that the flaws in Anselm’s logic would be made obvious if we go through the argument again, replacing the idea of god with the idea of an island
-he explains that we could imagine the most excellent Lost Island; we understand the implications of the phrase ‘the most excellent island’ and, therefore, this notion exists as a concept in our understanding.
-we might then, using Anselm’s logic, go on to say that for such an island to exist in our minds means that this is inferior to the same island existing in reality. If our island is truly the most excellent, it cannot have the inferiority that comes from it being a concept only - it must, therefore, exist in reality. But clearly, there is no such island in reality. We cannot bring something into existence just by defining its superlative
what was Anselm’s reply to Gaunilo?
