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.
He is also a perfect being therefore God must exist as existence is perfection.
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’
