Malcolm's Ontological Argument

Question 1

Outline Malcolm’s Ontological Argument in logical form.

Answer 1

P1- God either does or does not exist.
P2- God cannot enter or leave existence.
P3- If God exists, he cannot cease to exist.
C1- Therefore if God exists, he exists necessarily.
P1- If God does not exist, his existence is impossible.
P2- Therefore God’s existence is either necessary or impossible.
P3- The concept of God is not self-contradictory.
C1- Therefore God’s existence is necessary.
C2- Therefore God exists.

Question 2

What is the largest problem with Malcolm’s Ontological Argument formulation?

Answer 2

He asserts that the concept of God isn’t self-contradictory; The Euthyphro Dilemma, The Paradox of the Stone and the incoherence of human free will and God’s Omniscience demonstrate the incompatibility of his divine characteristics.

The Problem of Evil is also difficult to overcome and these show his concept to be largely problematic.