Ontological Argument Flashcards
What is the ontological argument?
An argument for the existence of God
Anselm’s definition of God
“That than which nothing greater can be conceived”
Decartes definition of God
“Supremely perfect being”
What do some philosophers consider Anselm’s argument to be?
A prayer to God,exploring his faith and seeking a greater understanding of God
Anselm’s first part
‘That than which nothing greater can be conceived’
God is the greatest being that can be thought of & cannot be improved upon.
‘The fool said in his heart, “there is no God”’
The atheist understands the definition of God but rejects this concept of God by denying the existence of such a being.
Anselm says the fool in wrong in saying that God does not exist as anyone who understands what it is to say God exists must have knowledge of God.
- in ones understanding
- reductio ad absurdum
Difference between ‘In ones understanding’ and ‘to understand’
An object ‘in ones understanding’ and ‘to understand’ that the object exists
EG. Before an artists paints a picture he understands in his mind what he is going to paint - therefore the painting exists in the artists understanding
When he has painted his picture, it is then in both his understanding and reality
‘Something than which nothing greater can be conceived’
Anselm is stating that if God exists in the mind alone then a greater being could exist in both the mind and the reality - this would then be a greater being and this would have to be God, therefore God exists
Reductio ad absurdum
Use of reason to prove God exists
> suppose God only exists in ones understanding
then God could only be greater by existing in reality
this means a greater God is possible- one that exists in reality
This contradicts the definition of God therefore God must exist in both reality and the mind
Anselm’s second part
Gods existence is necessary (God cannot be thought of as not existing)
To be thought to not exist would be inferior to something that must always exist - God must necessarily exist
Anselm makes the 2nd part to prove Gaunilo wrong. He says that an island is contingent (it could exist or it couldn’t - like us, we could live or die) however, God is necessary so he HAS to exist
Gaunilo - perfect island
Criticised Anselm for moving from his definition of God to his suggestion that God exists.
Gaunilo says Anselm is wrong as you could say there is a perfect island you can’t see or visit but it just exists… So Anselm says you can’t say the same for god - therefore Anselm made 2nd part
Cogito ergo sum
‘I think therefore I am’
Descartes realised he could prove his own existence based on his own thoughts, but not prove existence of others
EG. Triangle has 3 sides
Descartes first part
God exists as an idea in the mind
Descartes defined ‘existence’ as one of gods perfections
He believes people have an innate idea of God, he said that humans cannot develop the idea of a perfect being themselves, therefore the idea must have came from the perfect being itself - therefore God exists
Descartes second part
Existence is a predicate of God, God must possess existence otherwise he is not perfect
This would go against the definition of God which is absurd
