Ontological argument

Question 1

What type of argument is the OA?

Answer 1

Deductive

Question 2

What type of knowledge does the OA use?

Answer 2

A priori

Question 3

What are synthetic statements?

Answer 3

Statements which can be empirically verified/falsified

Question 4

What are analytical statements?

Answer 4

Statements which are true by definition and based on logic/reasoning

Question 5

What is a subject?

Answer 5

The ‘who’ or ‘what/ the sentence is about

Question 6

What is a predicate?

Answer 6

The quality/ new information about the subject

Question 7

Identify the subject and the predicate in this sentence: Joe is bald

Answer 7

Subject = Joe
Predicate = bald

Question 8

What is a necessary truth?

Answer 8

A proposition which could not possible be false

Question 9

Give an example of a necessary truth

Answer 9

2+2 = 4

Question 10

What is a necessary being?

Answer 10

A being which cannot not exist

Question 11

What is a contingent being?

Answer 11

A being which relies on something else to exist

Question 12

What is the OA based on?

Answer 12

Claim that God’s existence can be deduced from his definition

Question 13

What happens when God is correctly defined?

Answer 13

There can be no doubt that he exists

Question 14

How is the OA a deductive argument?

Answer 14

‘God exists’ is true without sense experience - can know it is true just by thinking about it

Question 15

What is the subject and predicate in this sentence: God exists

Answer 15

Subject = God
Predicate = Exists

Question 16

Anselm’s 1st argument as a syllogism

Answer 16

P1: God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived
P2: It is greater to exist in reality than to exist only in the mind
C: As the greatest conceivable being. God must exist in reality

Question 17

What is Psalm 14:1?

Answer 17

The fool says in his heart there is no God

Question 18

How does Anselm use Psalm 14:1 in his argument?

Answer 18

Even the fool understands in his mind, even though he does not understand it to exist in reality

Question 19

What does Anselm mean by ‘greatest being’?

Answer 19

Omnipotent, omniscient etc

Question 20

What was Gaunilo responding on behalf of?

Answer 20

On behalf of the fool

Question 21

What analogy did Gaunilo use to criticise the OA?

Answer 21

The perfect lost island analogy

Question 22

Island analogy as a syllogism?

Answer 22

P1: It is possible to conceive of the most perfect and real lost island
P2: It is greater to exist in reality than to exist only in the mind
C: The most perfect and lost island must exist in reality

Question 23

What is reductio ad absurdum?

Answer 23

Argument to absurdity

Question 24

What is Gaunilo suggesting about Anselm’s argument?

Answer 24

His argument can be used to prove the existence of an endless number of perfect objects

Question 25

Finish the quote: God cannot be conceived not to exist .... That which can be conceived not to exist

Answer 25

is not God

Question 26

Criticisms of Island analogy?

Answer 26

1. An island is a contingent thing 2. It is impossible to quantify the idea of a perfect island 3. Your conception of the perfect island may change over time

Question 27

Anselm's second argument as a syllogism?

Answer 27

P1: God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived P2: The greatest conceivable being cannot be conceived not to exist C: God alone is a necessary being - God cannot not exist

Question 28

Whose version of the Ontological argument was Kant criticising?

Answer 28

Descartes

Question 29

What was Descartes' definition of God?

Answer 29

God is 'the supremely perfect being'

Question 30

Explain this quote: Existence can no more be separated from the essence of God than the fact that its three angles equal two right angles can be separated from the essence of a triangle

Answer 30

A triangle has 3 sides with 2 equal right angles cannot be disputed In the same way God cannot be disputed

Question 31

Explain Kant's first criticism: Existence is not a predicate

Answer 31

Real predicates give us new knowledge of a subject. Exists tells you nothing of the existence of 'it'

Question 32

Kant's first criticism: Existence is not a predicate - what example did he use?

Answer 32

Thalers - a coin used during Kant's time. Real predicates would be 'bronze, round, metallic'

Question 33

Kant's second criticism: God exists necessarily - explain

Answer 33

God exists necessarily is logically true but doesn't mean that God actually exists in reality

Question 34

How can we fix the Ontological argument?

Answer 34

By adding the word 'if' - 'if' there is a God then God exists necessarily

Question 35

Strength: Deductive argument

Answer 35

Deductive arguments are 100% true if the premises are true

Question 36

Strength: Does not rely on empirical experience

Answer 36

Empirical evidence can be flawed/can change and is not always reliable

Question 37

Strength: Aide to faith

Answer 37

Karl Barth: OA can help people express their faith

Question 38

Proof: Deductive argument?

Answer 38

Deductive arguments are 100% true if the premise is true

Question 39

Proof: A priori?

Answer 39

True by definition rather than relying on empirical evidence