Ontological Argument Flashcards
What does the term Ontological mean?
The term Ontological stems from the Greek ‘ontologia’, meaning ‘study of being’.
What type of argument is the Ontological argument?
The Ontological argument is analytic, a priori and deductive
Who was St Anselm of Canterbury and how did he define God?
St Anselm of Canterbury was an 11th century scholar and in his work ‘proslogion III’ defined God as ‘that than which nothing greater can be conceived’.
What did Anselm believe that his definition proved?
Anselm believed that his definition of God proved that God must exist ‘de dicto’ (by definition).
Why did Anselm argue that God must exist?
Anselm argued that for God to be the greatest being conceivable, he must exist because something that exists is greater than something which does not.
Why did Anselm refer to atheists as fools?
Anselm argued that the atheist argument, by accepting his definition of God, was effectively like saying ‘God, who exists, does not exist’.
How did 11th century monk St Gaunilo of Marmoutiers criticise the argument?
St Gaunilo criticised the logic of Anselm’s argument, stating that if God were replaced by another object, such as an island, then the logic is found to be flawed.
How did Anselm respond to Gaunilo’s criticism?
Anselm stated that the Ontological argument only applies to non-contingent beings, it does not work for an island (a contingent being) but does for God ( necessary being).
What other argument does the ontological argument link to and why?
The ontological argument links to the Kalam (cosmological argument), which is based on the idea that an infinite chain of causation is impossible, and instead the universe must be finite, stemming from a necessary being which causes all others (God).
What is a deductive argument?
an argument where if its premises are accepted then its conclusion must be accepted too
What was Renee Descartes’ contribution to the ontological argument?
God exists as a ‘supremely perfect’ being, and a supremely perfect being that does not exist is a logical impossibility.
How did Descartes respond to Gaunilo’s criticism of Anselm?
By emphasising the importance of God’s existence as a necessary being, and therefore as the only being to possess existence as a predicate
Why was Descartes in favour of the ontological argument?
As an enlightenment philosopher he rejected a posteriori, inductive arguments for their reliance on ‘unreliable’ empirical evidence.
How does Gottfried Liebniz support Descartes?
Liebniz suggests that a supremely perfect being could exist, for perfections are non empirical, meaning that they cannot be argued to be contradictory
What development did modern scholar Alvin Plantinga put forward?
Plantinga used modal logic (a school of thought involving the consideration of possible eventualities) to argue that God must exist`
