The Existence of God Flashcards
What is the ontological argument for God’s existence?
It is an a priori argument that claims God’s definition implies His existence, similar to how the word “mister” implies a male.
How does Anselm define God in his ontological argument?
Anselm defines God as “that than which nothing greater can be conceived.”
What is the key idea in Anselm’s Proslogion Chapter 2?
If God is the greatest conceivable being, then He must exist in reality, as existing in reality is greater than existing only in the mind.
randomly within that infinite time
What is the key idea in Anselm’s Proslogion Chapter 3?
God’s existence is necessary, meaning it is impossible for Him not to exist.
What was Gaunilo’s main objection to Anselm’s argument?
Gaunilo used the example of a perfect island, arguing that just because we can conceive of a perfect island does not mean it must exist.
How did Anselm respond to Gaunilo’s objection?
He argued that God is necessary, whereas an island is contingent and dependent on other things for its existence.
What was Aquinas’ criticism of Anselm’s argument?
Aquinas argued that humans cannot fully understand God, so His existence cannot be self-evident to us.
How did Hume criticize the ontological argument?
Hume argued that we can conceive of any being, including God, as not existing, meaning necessary existence is meaningless.
What was Kant’s objection to the ontological argument?
Kant argued that existence is not a predicate (a defining property) and that just because we define something as existing does not make it real.
What is Aquinas’ Fifth Way (teleological argument)?
He argued that nature has order and purpose, which must come from an intelligent designer—God.
What is Paley’s watch analogy?
If you find a watch in nature, its complexity implies a designer. Similarly, the complexity of the universe implies a divine designer.
How does Hume criticize the teleological argument?
He argues that:
Aptness of Analogy – Choosing a machine-like object (watch) presupposes design, unlike a cabbage, which also has order but no known designer.
Epicurean Thesis – Given infinite time, order could arise by chance.
Argument from Effect to Cause – We cannot assume a transcendent God from limited evidence.
What was John Stuart Mill’s criticism of the design argument?
The existence of evil and suffering suggests a flawed world, which implies a flawed designer.
How does Darwin’s theory of evolution challenge the design argument?
Evolution shows that life adapts through natural selection, not divine planning.
What is the anthropic principle proposed by F.R. Tennant?
The universe is fine-tuned for human life, which suggests intentional design.
What is Richard Swinburne’s argument for simplicity?
The simplest explanation for the universe’s order is that God designed it (following Ockham’s Razor).
What are the three versions of Aquinas’ cosmological argument?
Prime Mover – Everything in motion is moved by something else; there must be a first mover (God).
First Cause – Everything has a cause; there must be a first uncaused cause (God).
Necessity and Contingency – If everything is contingent, there must have been a time when nothing existed. A necessary being (God) must exist to explain everything else.
How did Hume criticize the cosmological argument?
He questioned the assumption of cause and effect and argued that we have no experience of divine causes.
How did Bertrand Russell criticize the cosmological argument?
He argued that speaking of a necessary being is a contradiction because “being” implies contingency.
What is the fallacy of composition in the cosmological argument?
Just because parts of the universe (e.g., humans) have causes doesn’t mean the universe as a whole needs a cause.
What is Leibniz’s principle of sufficient reason?
Everything must have an explanation, and the universe’s ultimate explanation is God.
