malcolm onto

Question 1

Norman Malcolm ontological argument

Answer 1

Malcolm’s ontological argument is derived from the idea that God is a being whose existence is necessary rather than contingent.

Question 2

argument

Answer 2

P1 God can’t come into existence as nothing can cause God to exist
P2 so if God does not exist then his existence is impossible
P3 God can’t cease to exist as nothing ca cause god to cease to exist
P4 so if God does exist then his existence is necessary.
Conc 1. Therefore, God’s existence is either impossible or necessary.
P5 somethings existence is impossible if it is self-contradictory
P6 goes existence is not self-contradictory
P7 therefore God’s existence is not impossible
Conc 2. Therefore, gods’ existence is necessary and God necessarily exists.

Question 3

Malcolm distinguishes between two types of being:

A being with contingent existence

A being with necessary existence

Answer 3

A being with contingent existence:
Is limited dependent upon other things for its existence
May be conceivably not have existed
Is caused to come into existence and to cease to exist

A being with necessary existence:
Is unlimited depending on nothing else for its existence
Must exist it is not conceivable that a necessary being may not have existed
Can’t be caused to come into existence or to cease to exist

Question 4

explanation- which type of being god is

Answer 4

Malcolm’s argument relies on the notion that contingency cant be a feature of God- God doesn’t depend on anything else for his existence and nothing can affect his existence.

This leaves the two possibilities that either it is logically impossible for God to exist or that its logically impossible for God not to exist. Since we can conceive of God existing, we can conclude that God necessarily exist.