Ontological argument Flashcards

1
Q

What does ontology mean?

A

The study of what exists that questions ‘being’ and reality.

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2
Q

What is Anslem’s premise and conclusion?

A
  1. By definition, God is the ‘greatest conceivable being’
  2. If this idea only exists in the mind then a greater being must exist in reality
  3. This would be greater than God as reality is greatness
  4. Therefore, God must exist in reality
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3
Q

What is Anselm’s painter analogy?

A

A painter has an idea of a great painting, but once it has been painted it is even greater because it now exists in reality.

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4
Q

What is a quote for Anselm?

A

‘The fool says in his heart there is no God’

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5
Q

What is Gaunilo’s island example?

A

He replaces God with the idea of the ‘greatest lost island’ - Anselm’s premise would not reach a conclusion that makes sense.
Just because you can think of the greatest thing in you head this does not mean it exists in reality.

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6
Q

Why does Gaunilo say that Anselm’s reasoning is limited?

A

He suggests that God is so beyond human beings that we cannot possibly say we understand that he exists.

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7
Q

How does Anselm respond to Gaunilo’s criticism?

A

A necessary being (God) is greater than a contingent being (Island)

It is possible to think of beings that come in and out of existence (contingent) and those that have a necessary existence.

God is too great to compare to an island.

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8
Q

Summary of Descartes’ ontological argument

A

Existence is a predicate of God.

Predicate’s cannot exist without the object.

Therefore God must exist.

We are born with this understanding.

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9
Q

What is a predicate?

A

Something which is said about other objects that adds to its description

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10
Q

What is a synthetic statement?

A

A statement that needs external evidence to verify whether it is true or false.

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11
Q

What is an analytic statement?

A

A statement that contains the truth needed to verify it within the statement itself.

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12
Q

What does Kant believe about existence?

A

‘Existence is not a predicate’

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13
Q

Quote for Gaunilo’s view on Anselm’s argument?

A

‘I should find it hard to decide which of us I ought to judge the bigger fool’

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14
Q

What is Gaunilo’s example of gossip to show how we cannot know God?

A

You can hear gossip about a man you don’t know but you can have some idea of what the man is like.

It is difficult to have an idea of what a God is in our minds - how can an argument for God be based on definition.

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15
Q

Why does Kant reject the ontological argument?

A

He thinks we can never prove his existence because humans have a limited understanding of reality.

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16
Q

What does Kant say all arguments about existence must be?

A

Synthetic - you need to find external evidence that these exist.

17
Q

How does Leibniz support the ontological argument?

A

He believed existence was a necessary part of a perfect being.

God’s existence is logically necessary because of his perfection.

18
Q

How does Malcolm support the ontological argument?

A

He says it is impossible to think of a perfect God without the idea of existence being part of the perfection.

19
Q

How does Plantinga support the ontological argument?

A

Takes inspiration from Descartes.

He argued that the existence of a maximally great being is possible, and if it is possible, it must exist in all possible worlds.

20
Q

What is Hume’s criticism of the ontological argument?

A

He critiqued the idea that we infer the existence of God solely from the concept of God.

Pointed out the problem with assuming that existence is perfection.

21
Q

What is Dawkins’ criticism of the ontological argument?

A

He claims it is a form of wishful thinking and a misuse of logic.

The failure to provide empirical proof renders the argument fundamentally flawed.

22
Q

What is Palmer’s criticism of Descartes’ view on existence being a predicate?

A

He claimed existence is neither perfection, nor a property used as a predicate.

Example: Two CV’s for a job, it would be ridiculous to put ‘exists’ on these.