Ontological argument

Question 1

A priori argument

Answer 1

Gaining knowledge through conceptual truth and definitions instead of experience

Question 2

Deductive reasoning

Answer 2

Using facts and logic to reach a conclusion.

Question 3

Contingent

Answer 3

The fact that everything (expect God) depends on something else to exist

Question 4

Necessary being

Answer 4

Something in which its existence is necessary. Aka God

Question 5

Anselms original ontological argument

Answer 5

God is the greatest possible being by definition, and therefore in our heads.
It is greater to exist in reality than in the mind
If he is the greatest possible being in only our minds then a greater being can exist in reality.
Therefore he must exist in reality if he is the greatest

Question 6

Analytic proposition

Answer 6

A statement which is true by definition - Anselm proposes that the phrase “God exists” is an analytic proposition as the concept of existence is part of the concept of God

Question 7

Anselm quote

Answer 7

“The fool says in his heart ‘There is no God’ “

Question 8

Gaunilos criticism of Anslem

Answer 8

If we swapped the idea of God with an island, Anselm argument is illogical.
“The lost island”
Eg imagining the greatest possible island must mean that is exists in reality, as for it to be the greatest then it must exist.
This clearly is not true, Gaunilo states that using Anselms premises anything could be proved to exist.

Question 9

Anselms 2nd ontological argument

Answer 9

You can’t compare an island to God, as an island is a contingent being and God is a necessary being.
Existence isn’t a necessary part of an island, but it is for God
(Analytic statement)

Question 10

Descartes

Answer 10

• God is a perfect being
• A quality of perfection is existence
• Therefore God must exist
• Existence is a predicate of God

Question 11

Kant

Answer 11

• Disagrees with Descartes
• Existence is not a predicate
• To say something exists does not change its definition
• 100 coins example : if your looking at 100 coins, your mind also sees 100 coins. Reality is the same as the mind.

Question 12

Russel

Answer 12

• Agrees with Kant/disagrees with the ontological argument
• All ontological arguments are cases of bad grammar
• Existence is not a predicate, they have made a linguistic mistake

Question 13

Aquinas

Answer 13

• Disagrees with the ontological argument
• Humans can’t fully know the essence of God using reason anyway
• Instead we should focus on empirical evidence

Question 14

Dawkins

Answer 14

• Disagrees with the ontological argument
• Book “God delusion” states that “faith is the great excuse to evade the need to think and use evidence”

Question 15

Platinga

Answer 15

• Agrees with Anselm + ontological argument
• Supports Anselm’s defence against Gaunillo as an island can be adapted and improved but God can’t be any greater

Question 16

Pros of a priori arguments

Answer 16

• Using reason is logical as you cannot fully trust the senses (for example, you can hear or see things which aren’t there)
• Plato would agree

Question 17

Cons of a priori arguments

Answer 17

• Empiricism means actual proof, which cannot happen in arguments supported by reason

Question 18

Analytical proposition

Answer 18

A statement which is true by definition
(Anselm = God exists)

Question 19

How does Malcolm interpret the greatest being?

Answer 19

God being unlimited, not dependent on anything else for existence. God has no limitation which could possibly cause God’s non-existence.

Question 20

How does Malcolm defend the ontological argument against Kant’s critique?

Answer 20

Malcolm argues that necessary existence is a defining quality of a necessary being, unlike contingent beings.

Question 21

What limitation does Malcolm’s argument have?

Answer 21

Malcolm only shows that God is a non-dependent being, not that God must exist; a non-dependent being could still not exist.

Question 22

Anselm’s painter analogy

Answer 22

A painter has an idea of a great painting in his mind, but once it has been painted it is even greater - this is because it exists in reality too.

Question 23

Bible quote which inspired Anselm

Answer 23

“The fool in his heart says there is no God”

Question 24

Anselm quote

Answer 24

“There is no doubt that there exist sa being, than which nothing greater can be conceived”