Ontological Argument

Question 1

What is the aim of the Ontological Argument

Answer 1

Understanding the idea of god allows us to understand God existing in reality

Question 2

What type of argument is this?

Answer 2

Deductive
If the premise are true then the outcome must also be true
A priori
Argument is true before evidence as it’s based on definition

Question 3

Who formulated the argument?

Answer 3

Anselm of Canterbury

Question 4

How does Anselm formulate his argument

Answer 4

Proof by contradiction within a prayer

Question 5

What are Anselms 3 premises

Answer 5

P1 God is something than which nothing greater can be thought of
P2 Things exist either in mind only or mind and reality
P3 It is greater to exist in mind and reality than in mind only

Question 6

What assumption does Anselm make?

Answer 6

God exists in the mind only

Question 7

What contradiction does Anselm make with his assumption?

Answer 7

That if god exists in the mind only then it’s possible to think of a being greater than God and we’ve thought of a greater god than we originally imagined

Question 8

Quote Anselm’s reason for developing the ontological argument

Answer 8

“For I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand”

Question 9

What’s Anselms second argument?

Answer 9

Once you’ve understood that God is the greatest being possible then the next logical step is to conclude that God has a necessary existence

Question 10

What debate surrounds the Ontological argument?

Answer 10

The validity of the initial premise, some would argue that it’s a matter of faith based upon the true (hidden) premise ‘if’.

Question 11

What’s another argument surrounding the ontological argument?

Answer 11

That the argument has no basis and is so removed from the truth