Kants Criticisms

Question 1

Synthetic statement

Answer 1

Statement that requires external (empirical) evidence to prove its validty

Question 2

Analytic statement

Answer 2

A statement that is simply a fact/ true by definition

Question 3

Objection 1

Answer 3

Statements about existence are synthetic, not analytic

Question 4

Objection 2

Answer 4

Existence is not a predicate

Question 5

Existence is not a predicate

Answer 5

Kant argues that the existence of God isn’t a predicate as it doesn’t develop or improve any knowledge or understanding we already have of him

Predicate - part of a sentence that expands understanding

Question 6

Statements about existence are synthetic, not analytic

Answer 6

Kant believes you need synthetic evidence of God to prove his existence, he says that the ‘essence’ of a triangle is 180° but it doesn’t mean this particular triangle exists in reality

Question 7

Kants 100 Thalers Illustration

Answer 7

100 real silver coins don’t have any extra coins than 100 imaginary coins - the existence of the coins adds nothing to the concept of God

Question 8

Bertrand Russell and ‘The King of France is bald’

Answer 8

The sentence smuggles in the assumption that the king of France exists in the same way Descrates and Anselm smuggle in the assumption that God exists

Question 9

Richard Dawkins

Answer 9

Highlighted the complex nature of the ontological argument as a ‘riddle’ and is trickery and impossible for non-believers to gasp