Different types of arguments

Question 1

What is the form of a ‘reductio ad absurdum’ argument, and why is it sometimes useful to employ this kind of argument strategy

Answer 1

A reductio ad absurdum argument is an argument form whereby an assumed premise leads to a contradiction. Because the argument is valid, and because a valid argument cannot entail a false conclusion if all premises are true, the argument concludes that the assumed premise is false. These kinds of arguments are often used when there are no other plausible or straightforward ways of arriving at a conclusion

Question 2

What is the difference between a possible being, and an impossible being?

Answer 2

A possible being is a being that might exist, but that does not necessarily exist. For example, unicorns are possible beings, because the concept of a unicorn is coherent. An impossible being cannot exist because the concept (such as that of a square circle) is internally incoherent

Question 3

Explain the logic of Anselm’s argument for the existence of God in your own word

Answer 3

1.God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived. (Definition)
2.God exists in the understanding, but not in reality. (Premise)
3.Existence in reality is greater than existence in the understanding alone. (Premise)
4.It is conceivable that God exists in reality. (Premise – God is a possible being)
5.It is conceivable that there is a being greater than God. (Follows from 2, 3, and 4)Conclusion. It is conceivable that there is a being greater than that than which nothing greater can be conceived. (Follows from 1 and

Question 4

4.What is Gaunilo’s objection to Anselm? Does his analogy work

Answer 4

Gaunilo argues that, by Anselm’s own logic, we can prove that the Greatest Island exists. But Gaunilo thinks that this is a kind of reductio ad absurdum because it is clear that the Greatest Island does not exist. So by parity of reasoning Anselm’s argument for the existence of God must also fa