Deductive Arguments

Question 1

What is a deductive argument?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is the ontological argument?

Answer 2

Deductive reasoning using premises based on the characteristics of God

Question 3

What were Anselm’s dates and work?

Answer 3

1033-1109, Proslogian

Question 4

What is Anselm’s first argument?

Answer 4

• 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

Question 5

What is Anselm’s second argument?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What is Anselm’s third argument?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

How did Anselm view atheism?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What was Gaunilo’s work?

Answer 8

‘In Behalf of the Fool’

Question 9

What is reductio ad absurdum?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What is the perfect island analogy?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What was Anselm’s response to Gaunilo?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What were Descartes’ dates and work?

Answer 12

1596-1650, Meditations

Question 13

What is Descartes’ ontological argument?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What is the triangle analogy?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What is the mountain and valleys analogy?

Answer 15

It is impossible to imagine a mountain without a valley

Question 16

What was Kant’s work?

Answer 16

Critique of Pure Reason

Question 17

What was Kant’s objection to Descartes?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What is the 100 thalers analogy?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What is the unicorn analogy?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What was Kant’s response to the triangle analogy?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What are Malcolm’s dates?

Answer 21

1911-1990

Question 22

What arguments did Malcolm agree and disagree with?

Answer 22

• disagreed with Proslogion 2 and SPB
• agreed with Proslogion 3

Question 23

What is Malcolm’s argument?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

The ontological argument is effective:

Answer 24

1. Logical
2. No taintable evidence
3. Faith seeking understanding

Question 25

The ontological argument is ineffective:

Answer 25

1. Convert 2. Not GoCT 3. Premises

Question 26

A priori arguments are persuasive:

Answer 26

1. No experience 2. Inescapable conclusions 3. God

Question 27

A priori arguments are not persuasive:

Answer 27

1. No evidence 2. Rely on premises 3. A posteriori is the basis of medical, technological and educational systems

Question 28

Objections to the ontological argument are persuasive:

Answer 28

1. Gaunilo 2. Kant 3. Lack of evidence

Question 29

Objections to the ontological argument are not persuasive:

Answer 29

1. Gaunilo 2. Anslem did not suggest adding the concept of existence to the concept of God 3. A priori

Question 30

Different views on the nature of God impact arguments:

Answer 30

1. Omnipotence (cosmo and teleo) 2. Perfection (onto) 3. Personal and immanent

Question 31

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

Answer 31

1. Don’t affect evil and suffering 2. Arguments independent of God's nature are more persuasive 3. God is unknowable

Question 32

Ontological arguments are more persuasive than inductive arguments:

Answer 32

1. Premises lead to conclusion 2. Do not need evidence 3. Less vulnerable to science

Question 33

Ontological arguments are less persuasive than inductive arguments:

Answer 33

1. Rejected premises 2. Relies on definition 3. No evidence

Question 34

Psalms 14:1 and 53:1

Answer 34

'The fool says in his heart, "there is no God"'

Question 35

In ne and in intellectu - Anselm

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Innate understanding of SPB - Descartes

Answer 36

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

Question 37

What is a priori knowledge?

Answer 37

Without experience, drawing conclusions based on principles of logic