Ontological argument Flashcards
What does ontology mean?
The study of what exists that questions ‘being’ and reality.
What is Anslem’s premise and conclusion?
- By definition, God is the ‘greatest conceivable being’
- If this idea only exists in the mind then a greater being must exist in reality
- This would be greater than God as reality is greatness
- Therefore, God must exist in reality
What is Anselm’s painter analogy?
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.
What is a quote for Anselm?
‘The fool says in his heart there is no God’
What is Gaunilo’s island example?
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.
Why does Gaunilo say that Anselm’s reasoning is limited?
He suggests that God is so beyond human beings that we cannot possibly say we understand that he exists.
How does Anselm respond to Gaunilo’s criticism?
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.
Summary of Descartes’ ontological argument
Existence is a predicate of God.
Predicate’s cannot exist without the object.
Therefore God must exist.
We are born with this understanding.
What is a predicate?
Something which is said about other objects that adds to its description
What is a synthetic statement?
A statement that needs external evidence to verify whether it is true or false.
What is an analytic statement?
A statement that contains the truth needed to verify it within the statement itself.
What does Kant believe about existence?
‘Existence is not a predicate’
Quote for Gaunilo’s view on Anselm’s argument?
‘I should find it hard to decide which of us I ought to judge the bigger fool’
What is Gaunilo’s example of gossip to show how we cannot know God?
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.
Why does Kant reject the ontological argument?
He thinks we can never prove his existence because humans have a limited understanding of reality.
What does Kant say all arguments about existence must be?
Synthetic - you need to find external evidence that these exist.
How does Leibniz support the ontological argument?
He believed existence was a necessary part of a perfect being.
God’s existence is logically necessary because of his perfection.
How does Malcolm support the ontological argument?
He says it is impossible to think of a perfect God without the idea of existence being part of the perfection.
How does Plantinga support the ontological argument?
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.
What is Hume’s criticism of the ontological argument?
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.
What is Dawkins’ criticism of the ontological argument?
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.
What is Palmer’s criticism of Descartes’ view on existence being a predicate?
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.
