Ontological Argument Flashcards
who is for the ontological argument
Anselm
descartes
platinga
who is against the ontological argument
gaunilo aquinas hume kant Russell
what is aquinas’ definition of God in his first form
a being than which nothing greater can be conceived
why must God exist (Anselm)
must exist to fit definition else it would be contradictory
Anselm’s argument premise 1-3
P1 by definition, God is a being than which nothing greater can be conceived
P2 both believers and non-believers accept this - even the ‘fool’ Psalm 14
P3 God therefore exists in our minds
Anselm’s argument premise 4-6
P4 something can exist in the mind alone, or mind and reality
P5 greater to exist in mind and reality
P6 therefore, God would be greater if he existed, not just in the mind
Anselm’s argument premise 7 and conclusion
P7 if God did not exist in reality, can’t fit definition
C therefore, God must exist in reality as well as mind
who rejects Anselm
Gaunilo
on what grounds does Gaunilo reject Anselm on
Anselm suggests that by defining God, you can be certain of his existence
Absurd, could define anything into existence
No proof of God
what is Gaunilo’s island analogy
‘lost island’ beautiful, tranquil, perfect
because island is the best of islands, it would be better if it existed
in order for it to be perfect, must exist
2 premise argument for Gaunilo’s analogy
P1 we can imagine an island which is the greatest conceivable island
P2 it’s greater to exist in reality than merely in understanding
C therefore, greatest conceivable island must exist in reality
what is Anselm’s response to Gaunilo
God and island are not the same
there’s more to God than just existence
God is a necessary being
what makes gaunilo not successful (Anselm)
he doesn’t understand God is necessary
cannot be conceived as not existing
what is the problem with Anselm’s first form
may give us proof if God’s existence, but could suggest God is not necessary and is just a being
what does Anselm want to prove
that God is necessary and there is no possibility of him not existing
what is God for Anselm (not the definition)
eternal
not limited by time
he is greater than a being who goes in and out of existent
what is the 4 premise argument for Anselm’s second form
P1 God is the greatest possible being
P2 it is greater to be necessary than just existing
P3 if God was contingent and we can imagine he would not exist, then a greater being can be imagined that cannot be conceived to not exist
P4 this would be greater than God
C therefore, God is a necessary being
What is Descartes’ definition of God
‘a supremely perfect being’
what part of God does Descartes focus on
God’s essence and the relationship between essence and existence
What is Descartes’ idea of God + e.g.
clear and distinct which includes his existence
e.g. the idea of triangle includes having 3 angles
what is God’s existence for Descartes
a necessary predicate of God
what is the 4 premise argument of Descartes
P1 God is the supremely perfect being
P2 a supremely perfect being contains all the perfections
P3 existence is a supreme perfection
C therefore God, as a supremely perfect being exists
Descartes quote about existence
‘existence is inseparable from God’
what does Descartes claim
he has correctly understood properties involved in the essence of God
How does Descartes claim he has correctly understood properties involved in the essence of God + e.g.
we can think we know something about the essential nature of a shape, but it one case we are right and in the other we are mistaken
e.g. someone thinking all 4-sided shapes can be inscribed in a circle
how can we tell the difference between beliefs for Descartes
there’s a difference between beliefs based on ‘clearly and distinctly’
perceiving the truth and others not based on such clear and distinct understanding
as long as we accept only what we see as clear and distinct to be the case, we probably won’t make mistakes
what does Descartes say he has
a clear and distinct conception of God’s existence
