Ontological Argument

Question 1

Anselm

Answer 1

11th century
Aimed to affirm beliefs and “Refute the fool who says in his heart that there’s no God” psalm 14:1
Definition of God-that which nothing greater can be achieved

Question 2

Fools features

Answer 2

Understands the claim that God exists
Doesn’t believe in his existence
Internally inconsistent
A reductio ad absurdium

Question 3

Proslogion 2

Answer 3

P1-God is that which nothing greater can be achieved
P2-it is different to exist in re than in intellectu
P3-better to exist in re
C-God has to exist de dicto otherwise he would not be the greatest thing

Question 4

Proslogion 3

Answer 4

P1-God is that which nothing greater can be achieved
P2-it is different to exist necessarily than contingent
P3-better to be necessary
P4-God must exist necessarily to be greatest thing
C-God exists

Question 5

Descartes

Answer 5

Impirical evidence=unreliable

Based on innate ideas rather than definitions

Question 6

Descartes premises

Answer 6

P1-I exist
P2-in my mind u have the concept of a PB
P3-as an imperfect being the concept could not have come from my mind
P4-the concept of a PB must have come from one
P5-a PB exists
C-God exists

Question 7

Malcolm

Answer 7

Argued that the nature of God meant that if he didn’t exist necessarily-he didn’t exist at all
There cannot be a merely possible necessary being as a necessary being cannot not exist

Question 8

Malcolm’s premises

Answer 8

P1-the definition of God is that of a necessary being
P2-so though G’s existence is disputed, if he does exist, his existence is necessary
P3-it follows that G’s existence is either necessary or impossible
P4-there’s no disproof of God
C-God exists necessarily

Question 9

Criticism of Malcolm

Answer 9

Negamount
A necessary gold mountain (uses same premises)
Something’s existence is only impossible if the concept of self contradictory or logically absurd

Question 10

Guanilo’s objection

Answer 10

The lost island
No intrinsic maximum
And the lost island could logically exist

Question 11

Strength

Answer 11

Deductive-the definition of God is accepted by atheists

Question 12

Strength II

Answer 12

Anselms definition fits in with our intuition of God

Question 13

Weakness

Answer 13

Hume-cannot define things into existence

Needs substantial proof

Question 14

Weakness II

Answer 14

Aquinas-we don’t have an agreed definition of God

Question 15

Weakness III

Answer 15

Kant-existence is not a predicate of things

Question 16

Basics / Intro

Answer 16

Ontos- Greek for study of existence
A priori
Analytic
Deductive

Question 17

Strength III

Answer 17

If you agree with the definition-it does make logical sense

Also all the main argument lost island and Negamount are basically the same and both have the same shortcomings