Malcolm's Ontological Arguement

Question 1

When did Norman Malcolm live?

Answer 1

1911-1990

Question 2

Which two philosophers was Malcolm a disciple of?

Answer 2

G.E Moore and Wittgenstein, both of whom were concerned with the philosophy of language

Question 3

What challenge to Descartes’ ontological arguement did Malcolm accept?

Answer 3

Accepted Kant’s idea that existence couldn’t be treated as a predicate. However, he still argued that Anselm’s second version of the ontological arguement was successful

Question 4

Outline Malcolm’s ontological arguement

Answer 4

• If God does not exist today, he never has and never will; his existence must be impossible
• If God does exist, he must do so necessarily
• God’s existence is therefore impossible or necessary
• God’s existence is not logically impossible; as it is not contradictory to have a concept of a God that exists - it is an idea we can entertain without any logical absurdity
• Therefore, given God’s existence is not impossible, it must be necessary
• Therefore, God exists necessarily

Question 5

Give the two major criticisms of Malcolm’s ontological arguement

Answer 5

• There are things that don’t exist without their existence being impossible
• Malcolm’s arguement rests on the assumption that God has necessary existence, which some people may reject as an a priori axiom

Question 6

Who did Malcolm think his arguement would fail to convince?

Answer 6

He thought it could not convince athiests, as only theists could see the necessity of the statement ‘God exists’

Question 7

Why does Malcolm reject the idea that God has contingent existence?

Answer 7

He believes God could not come into being or be created in any way, as this would make him a limited being

Question 8

Why does Malcolm reject the idea that God’s existence is impossible?

Answer 8

He holds that God’s existence is not logically impossible; as it is quite conceivable

Question 9

What is a ‘logical impossibility’?

Answer 9

Something that cannot be reasonably possible or consistent; for example, a triangle cannot have three and four sides at the same time

Question 10

Define ‘existential’

Answer 10

Relating to existence

Question 11

What does Malcolm’s ontological arguement actually prove?

Answer 11

While it doesn’t prove that God actually exists, it proves that if God does exist, he must exist necessarily