PHILOSOPHY - ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS Flashcards

Question 1

Q

ANSELM - ATTEMPT TO PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

Answer

A

GOD = ‘THAT THAT WHICH NOTHING GREATER CAN BE CONCEIVED’ - NOTHING GREATER THAN GOD
BELIEVED THAT EVEN FOOLS WOULD ACCEPT THIS - REFERRED TO AS FOOLS IN THE BIBLE
1ST PREMISE = ‘IS IT GREATER FOR SOMETHING TO EXIST IN REALITY OR IN THE MIND?’ - EXAMPLE OF MONEY
2ND PREMISE = GREATER FOR SOMETHING TO EXIST IN REALITY, THEREFORE GOD EXISTS AS HE IS THE GREATEST AND IT IS POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO EXIST

Question 2

Q

ANSELM - ATTEMPT TO PROVE GOD IS A NECESSARY BEING

Answer

A

NECESSARY BEING = INFINITE
CONTINGENT BEING = LIMITED
1ST PREMISE = ‘THAT THAN WHICH NOTHING GREATER CAN BE CONCEIVED’
2ND PREMISE = WHICH TYPE OF BEING IS GREATER - ARGUES THAT NECESSARY BEINGS ARE GREATER
APPLIED THE 2ND PREMISE TO THE FIRST AND CONCLUDED THAT GOD IS A NECESSARY BEING AS HE IS GREATER THAN HUMANS

Question 3

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ST ANSELM BACKGROUND

Answer

A

Question 4

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DESCARTES ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Answer

A

DESCRIBES GOD AS A ‘SUPREMELY PERFECT BEING’ - FLAWLESS
2ND PREMISE = EACH OBJECT HAS SPECIFIC PREDICATES - EXAMPLE OF TRIANGLES (3 SIDES)
CONCLUDES THAT GOD MUST EXIST AS HE HAS THE PREDICATES OF A SUPREMELY PERFECT BEING - EXISTENCE

Question 5

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DESCARTES BACKGROUND

Answer

A

Question 6

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NORMAN MALCOLM ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Answer

A

DEFINES GOD AS ‘AN ABSOLUTELY UNLIMITED BEING’ (LIMITLESS). -EXAMPLE OF GOD HAVING NO SHAPE AND GOD CANT EXIST IN SPACE OR TIME - BOTH OF THESE WOULD LIMIT HIM
2ND PREMISE = ONLY WAY FOR GOD TO EXIST IS AS A NECESSARY BEING - GOD IS LIMITLESS AND A NECESSARY BEING
3RD PREMISE = IF GOD DOESN’T EXIST, HIS EXISTENCE IS SOMETHING THAT COULDN’T HAPPEN
4TH PREMISE = THE ONLY REASON WHY GOD COULDN’T EXIST IS BECAUSE HE IS SELF CONTRADICTORY - STOLEN FROM GOTTFRIED LEIBNIZ

Question 7

Q

NORMAL MALCOLM BACKGROUND

Answer

A

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