Ontological Argument

Question 1

List the premises of Anselm’s First Argument

Answer 1

1. God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived
2. It is greater to exist in both reality and the understanding, rather than just in the understanding
3. By that principle, the greatest possible being MUST exist in both the understand and reality

Therefore, God exists in both the understanding and reality

Question 2

Outline Gaunilo’s Objection to Anselm’s First Argument

Answer 2

The “Perfect Island” :

-If we imagine a perfect island, then following Anselm’s logic, it must exist in reality and understanding

Question 3

Outline Anselm’s Second Argument

Answer 3

• God is a being than which none greater can be imagined
• It is greater to necessarily exist, than not to
• If God is just an idea and not existent in reality, we are capable of thinking of an idea greater
• But we can’t, as God is the greatest
• Thus if he is an idea, he must be real

Therefore, God exists

Question 4

List the premises of Descartes’ Ontological Argument

Answer 4

1. God is supremely perfect
2. A supremely perfect being has all supreme perfections
3. Existence is a supreme perfection

Therefore, God, a supremely perfect being, exists

Question 5

Outline Kant’s First Objection to the Ontological Argument

Answer 5

Saying “a triangle does not have three sides” is illogical, however saying “God does not exist” is not a logical contradiction

Question 6

Outline Kant’s Second Objection to the Ontological Argument

Answer 6

• Existence is not a predicate. Talking of something existing is different from saying something is, for example, a certain colour
• Adding the predicate of “existing” does not add any new information, unless something does not exist by definition
• The idea of 100 coins and 100 real coins are worth the same

Question 7

Outline Hume’s Objection to the Ontological Argument

Answer 7

For Hume, everything we know can be divided into Relations of Ideas and Matters of Fact

• Descartes is trying to prove what exists (Matters of Fact) using A priori knowledge (Relation of Ideas)
• Even if, as Descartes says, “God exists” is an analytic truth. Analytic truths only tell us about the meaning of words. Moving from defining ‘God’ to proving his existence is an illogical step

Question 8

Outline Malcolm’s Ontological Argument

Answer 8

Malcolm concludes that there are four possibilities for the status of God:

• Necessarily existing
• Contingently existing (dependent = not omnipotent)
• Necessarily not existing (not existing = not omnipotent)
• Contingently not existing (dependent = not omnipotent)

Therefore, God must Necessarily Exist