Ontological

Question 1

Anselm’s Ontological Argument (Proslogian)

Answer 1

P1 God is the greatest possible being (a being that which nothing greater can be conceived).
P2 God exists at least in the mind or understanding.
P3 A being who exists only in the mind is not as great as a being who exists in reality as well as in the mind.
P4 If God existed only in the mind, then he would not be the greatest possible being.
C Therefore, God must exist in the reality as well as in the mind.

Question 2

Descartes’ Ontological Argument

Answer 2

P1 I have an idea of God.
P2 This idea is one of a supremely perfect being.
P3 A supremely perfect being doesn’t lack any perfection.
P4 Existence is a perfection.
C Therefore, God exists.

Question 3

Malcom’s Ontological Argument

Answer 3

P1 Either God exists or doesn’t exist.
P2 God is a being that which nothing greater can be conceived.
P3 A being that which nothing greater can be conceived cannot come into existence or go out of existence.
P4 So, if God exists, then God cannot go out of existence.
P5 So, if God exists, then God’s existence is necessary.
P6 Also, if God doesn’t exist, then God cannot begin to exist.
P7, So, if God doesn’t exist, then God’s existence is impossible.
C1 Therefore, God’s existence is either necessary or impossible (From 1, 5, and 7)
P8 God’s existence is impossible only if the concept of God is self-contradictory.
P9 The concept of God is not self-contradictory.
C2 Therefore, God’s existence is not impossible.
C3 Therefore, God exists necessarily (From C1 and C2).

Question 4

Issue: Guanilo’s Island

Answer 4

If Anselm is valid, then anything can be defined into existence:
P1 The perfect island, by definition, is an island that which nothing greater can be conceived.
P2 This perfect island can be coherently conceived.
P3 It is greater to exist in reality than to only exist in the mind.
C Therefore, this perfect island must exist.

–> Islands are still contingently dependent, but God is necessary and independent. Hence it is more sound with the concept of God than island.

Question 5

Issue: Aquinas’ God concept

Answer 5

We have limited intelligence. Cannot conceive God as the greatest conceivable being.

–> This is fine, and in fact cannot be otherwise. Our notion of God will always evolve as we know ourselves and connect more.

Question 6

Issues: Existence =/ Predicate (Kant & Russell)

Answer 6

Adding the property ‘existence’ to a unicorn does not change its formal concept.
This is because ‘existence’ is not an adjective. It is a ‘verb’ (to exist).
Predicates are adjectives.

–> Norman Malcom evades this criticism as “necessary existence” is a predicate (but then suffers fallacy of equivocation).

Question 7

Issues: ‘God does not exist’ is not a contradiction (Hume)

Answer 7

P1 If ontological arguments succeed, then ‘God does not exist’ is a logical contradiction (analytic).
P2 A logical contradiction cannot be coherently conceived.
P3 But, ‘God does not exist’ can be coherently conceived.
C1 Therefore, ‘God does not exist’ is not a logical contradiction.
C2 Therefore, ontological arguments fail.

Question 8

Issue: Fallacy of Equivocation (Hick)

Answer 8

Conclusion does not follow the premises!
C1 Therefore, God’s existence is either (ontologically) necessary or impossible (cannot be contingent).
P8 God’s existence is impossible only if the concept of God is self-contradictory (logical necessity).
C3 Therefore, God exists (ontologically) necessarily.
We can accept that if God exists, then He exists necessarily (ontologically), but deny that God’s existence is a necessary truth.