Ontological Arguments Flashcards
Anselm’s ontological arguments
God is that which nothing greatercan be conceived
It is greater to exist in the understanding and in reality than in the understanding alone
God must exist in the understanding and in reality
Descartes’ triangle analogy
To think of a triangle is to necessarily think of a shape that has 3 sides and 3 interior angles that = 180 degrees.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that this shape necessarily exists in any external reality but in order to think about the idea of a triangle there needs to be a set of criteria that can be understood by all and which forms part of the definition of what a triangle is
With God, it’s equally impossible to think of God unless we consider the attribute of existence as a necessary part of the definition of what God is
Descartes’ mountain analogy
We cannot think of a mountain without thinking of the corresponding valley – as whenever there is one there is the other, by definition.
In the same way it is impossible to separate the ideas of God and the idea of the existence of God. (because we possess an idea of God he must therefore exist). God has necessary existence in the same way a valley is necessary to the existence of a mountain.
Therefore God necessarily exists as the supremely perfect being.
Gaunilo’s challenge to Anselm - the perfect island
The idea of something that can be thought of as existing separately outside our mind, just because it is the greatest thing we can think of, is a logical nonsense.
Just because we can define a greater possible being does not automatically lead to the fact that one actually exists
Kant’s 1st challenge to Descartes
If you say that unicorns have horns (which they have to have to be unicorns), does that mean unicorns exist?
No, of course not. All we can say is that IF unicorns exist, they must have horns.
If we say that existence is a predicate of God (they are inseparable), does that prove that God exists?
No. All we can say is that IF there is a God then he must exist
Kant’s 2nd challenge to Descartes
Existence is not a determining predicate: it cannot be a property that an object either possesses or lacks.
Norman Malcolm - modern ontological argument
He said that if God is the thought than which nothing greater can be thought, and He does not exist, then He cannot
come in to existence - would require God to have a beginning and an end
Malcolm’s 4 possibilities
God’s existence is necessarily false – it is logically impossible for a being with God’s qualities to exist
God’s existence is contingently false – it is possible that God could exist, but it just happens that there is no such being
God’s existence is contingently true – it is possible that God could exist, and it just happens that there is such a being
God’s existence is necessarily true – it is logically necessary that any being with the properties of God exists
Anselm’s response to Gaunilo (proslogion 3)
only God is necessary and is the source of his own being
Gaunilo’s island is a contingent object and can always be improved, no one thing is necessary for an island to be perfect
God’s perfection and existence is a necessary part of him, so Anselm’s argument still stands
