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Philosophy > Deductive Arguments > Flashcards

Deductive Arguments Flashcards

1
Q

What is a deductive argument?

A

An argument based on logic and a priori knowledge forming a conclusion that is necessarily true

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2
Q

What is the ontological argument?

A

Deductive reasoning using premises based on the characteristics of God

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3
Q

What were Anselm’s dates and work?

A

1033-1109, Proslogian

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4
Q

What is Anselm’s first argument?

A
  • God is a BTWNGCBC
  • It is foolish to deny God because you must have a concept of God to know what not to believe in
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5
Q

What is Anselm’s second argument?

A
  • Existence in ne is greater than existence in intellectu
  • God is a BTWNGCBC so must exist in ne
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6
Q

What is Anselm’s third argument?

A
  • A necessary being is greater than a contingent being
  • God is BTWNGCBC so must be necessary
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7
Q

How did Anselm view atheism?

A

A self-delusion in order to live a life of injustice and corruption

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8
Q

What was Gaunilo’s work?

A

‘In Behalf of the Fool’

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9
Q

What is reductio ad absurdum?

A

Anselm’s argument can be used for the existence of anything at all, which is absurd

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10
Q

What is the perfect island analogy?

A
  • a perfect island cannot have the deficiency of being merely a concept and so must exist
  • this is clearly ridiculous
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11
Q

What was Anselm’s response to Gaunilo?

A
  • God is unique with no intrinsic maximum and has a necessary existence whereas an island is contingent
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12
Q

What were Descartes’ dates and work?

A

1596-1650, Meditations

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13
Q

What is Descartes ontological argument?

A
  • God is a SPB, which humans have an innate awareness of
  • Existence is a predicate of perfection
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14
Q

What is the triangle analogy?

A

A defining predicate of a triangle is that it has 3 sides and 3 internal angles

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15
Q

What is the mountain and valleys analogy?

A

It is impossible to imagine a mountain without a valley

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16
Q

What was Kant’s work?

A

Critique of Pure Reason

17
Q

What was Kant’s objection to Descartes?

A
  • predicate describes a characteristic
  • existence is not a quality it just shows something has been actualised
18
Q

What is the 100 thalers analogy?

A

If you imagine 100 thalers, the quality of existence makes no difference to the image of the thalers

19
Q

What is the unicorn analogy?

A

A unicorn is made a unicorn by its horn, it does not require existence to be defined

20
Q

What was Kant’s response to the triangle analogy?

A

It is a logical necessity for a triangle to have 3 angles but not for it to exist

21
Q

What are Malcolm’s dates?

A

1911-1990

22
Q

What arguments did Malcolm agree and disagree with?

A
  • disagreed with Proslogion 2 and SPB
  • agreed with Proslogion 3
23
Q

What is Malcolm’s argument?

A
  1. God’s existence could be impossible, however his nature is not self-contradictory
  2. God’s existence could be possible, but possibility is contingent and requires an external cause
  3. Therefore God must be necessary
24
Q

The ontological argument is effective:

A
  1. Presents logical steps leading to a conclusion
  2. Has an 1000 year history and is still considered in contemporary philosophy
  3. Meets its aim of faith seeking understanding
25
Q

The ontological argument is ineffective:

A
  1. Unlikely to convince or convert
  2. Refers to an impersonal, unlimited being - not GoCT
  3. Requires belief in all premises leading to the conclusion
26
Q

A priori arguments are persuasive:

A
  1. No experience necessary
  2. Lead to inescapable conclusions
  3. OA works with fundamental understanding of God
27
Q

A priori arguments are not persuasive:

A
  1. No provable empirical basis
  2. Entirely depend on the validity of the premises to form a conclusion
  3. A posteriori is the basis of medical, technological and educational systems
28
Q

Objections to the ontological argument are persuasive:

A
  1. Gaunilo argues that just because a BTWNGCBC can be defined does not mean it exists
  2. Kant argues existence adds nothing to our understanding of God
  3. Both point out logical absurdities
29
Q

Objections to the ontological argument are not persuasive:

A
  1. Gaunilo misunderstood Anselm’s argument - it is obvious God is incomparable to an island
  2. Anslem did not suggest adding the concept of existence to the concept of God
30
Q

Different views on the nature of God impact arguments:

A
  1. God’s omnipotence is central to cosmo and teleo
  2. God’s perfection is the crux of the onto argument
  3. If God was considered impersonal and entirely transcendent then it would undermine all arguments
31
Q

Different views on the nature of God do not impact arguments:

A
  1. They do not impede traditional questions regarding the existence of God in the face of evil and suffering
  2. Arguments independent of God’s nature are more persuasive
32
Q

Ontological arguments are more persuasive than inductive arguments:

A
  1. If premises are accepted, it is difficult to deny God’s necessary existence
  2. Do not rely on corruptable evidence
  3. Less vulnerable to being disproved by science
33
Q

Ontological arguments are less persuasive than inductive arguments:

A
  1. If premises are rejected it fails entirely
  2. Existence following on from definition is entirely fallacious
  3. Inductive arguments are based on empirical evidence, in line with science
34
Q

Psalms 14:1 and 53:1

A

‘The fool says in his heart, “there is no God”’

35
Q

In ne and in intellectu - Anselm

A

‘There is absolutely no doubt that something-than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought exists in both the mind and in reality’

36
Q

Innate understanding of SPB - Descartes

A

‘The idea of God, or a supremely perfect being, is one that I find within me as surely as any shape or number’

37
Q

What is a priori knowledge?

A

Without experience, drawing conclusions based on principles of logic

Philosophy (5 decks)

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