The Ontological Argument Flashcards
What type of argument is the Ontological
A priori
Who devised the ontological argument
Anselm the archbishop of caneterbury
What was Anselms first argument
1)God is the greatest conceivable being.
2)The GCB could not be the GCB if he only exists in the mind because a greater being could exist in reality.
3)So in order to be the GCB, the GCB must exist in the mind and in reality.
4)Therefore god must exist in reality, he exists.
What is Anselm’s second ontological argument?
1)The idea of god meaning a being cannot be surpassed in greatness, a perfect being
2)This GCB cannot simply exist contingently it would be greater if he had necessary existence. In other words, it cannot be thought not to exist
3)God is by definition the GCB, he must have necessary existence
4)A logically necessary being is one whose non-existence is impossible
5) therefore god necessarily has to exist.
Who criticises Anselm’s first ontological argument?
Gaunilo
How does Gaunilo criticise Anselm?
The analogy of a perfect island
An island ‘than which no greater can be conceived’
The best possible island could not be the BPI if it only exists in the imagination, because a better island could exist in reality
So in order to be the BPI it must exist in mind and in reality therefore your island must exist in reality.
What does necessary being mean?
A being that possesses necessary existence
What does contingent mean?
If gods existence isn’t necessary it is contingent (conditional)
What does Descartes use to apply to the existence of God
Triangles
• A triangle has 3 sides has an internal angle of 180°
• These things are necessary to the definition of triangles
• Descartes goes on to apply this to God
How does Descartes apply his knowledge of triangles to God?
- God by definition is a supremely perfect being
- A supremely perfect being has all perfections
- Existence is one of these perfections
- Therefore god has existence, he exists
All the above must necessarily be true provided we understand what is meant by the concept of god.
How did Kant criticise the ontological argument
He says we can make two types of statements
1) an analytic statement
2) a synthetic statement
What is an analytic statement?
A statement where we say nothing new about the world.
We don’t need to finish our sentences the statement is implied in our choice of word.
(E.g. a bicycle has two wheels)
What is a synthetic statement?
A statement which says something about the world and has to be checked by our senses
(E.g the car is blue)
