The Ontological Argument

Question 1

what is the ontological argument

Answer 1

the ontological argument is an a priori argument based on inductive reasoning.This argument was created by anselm.The argument is analytic - the truth or falsity of an analytic statement is determined by the meanings of the words and symbols described to express it.

Question 2

what is the ontological argument based on

Answer 2

the argument is based on the principle that the word god is an analytic term which conveys everything that there is about god , including his necessary existence which derives from his supreme perfection

Question 3

ao2 for the ontological argument

Answer 3

• we expect god to be the same thing. this proves that god exists
• if nothing is perfect , how do you know what perfect is
  PERFECTION IS SUBJECTIVE , ITS OPEN TO ANYTHING

Question 4

Who is anselm

Answer 4

anselm was the arch bishop of canterbury

anselms arguments was based on the premise that god exists

Question 5

counter arguments for the existence of god

Answer 5

everyone has some version of perfection maybe we can understand god to be perfect

Question 6

first form of the ontological argument

it consists of premises

Answer 6

Premise 1 - god is nothing of which greater can be concieved
Premise 2 - that which nothing greater can be concieved must contain all perfections including the PERFECTION OF EXISTENCE
Premise 3 if god only consists as a contingent and necessary being, then a greater being could be imagined
p4- GOD MUST EXIST

Question 7

define aseity

Answer 7

when something is existing in and of itself, it is not dependant on anything

Question 8

second form of the ontological argument

Answer 8

p1- god is the greatest possible being
p2- it is greater to be a necessary than a contingent being
p4-if god exists as a contingent being, then a greater being could be imagined
p5-God is therefore a necessary being

Question 9

what is a deductive argument

Answer 9

an argument which then the conclusion must be true

Question 10

predicate

Answer 10

something that adds to our concept of the subject

Question 11

what is a necessary being

Answer 11

a being whose non existence is logically impossible

Question 12

Descartes

Answer 12

i think therefore i am

Question 13

what does Anselm say about the ontological argument

Answer 13

he says “god is a being so great that no greater being can be thought of “

Question 14

criticism of anselm : guanilo - the notion of perfect island

Answer 14

Guanilo demonstrated that Anselm argument attempted to define things into existence and would lead to absurd conclusions if applied to anything
A03: just because you can think of something, doesnt mean that it can exist

Question 15

what are the premises of Guanilo

Answer 15

Premise 1- i can conceive of an island that no greater island can be thought
premise 2- such and island must posses all possessions
premise 3-existence is a perfection
therefore the island exists

anselm stated that his premise was only to apply to god as he is a necessary being

Question 16

descartes ontological argument

Answer 16

descartes set out his argument through his book.He also set out premises
premise 1 - god is supremely a perfect being
premise 2 -because god is a supremely perfect being he possess all perfections
premise 3 - this perfect state includes existence which is a perfection. existence is a predicate of a perfect being

Question 17

criticism for the ontological argument

Answer 17

russell argues that existence cannot be a predicate

THERFORE, EXISTENCE IS NOT A PROPERTY OF THINGS, IT IS MORE A NUMERICAL CONCEPT

Question 18

Alvin plantinga

Answer 18

developed a new way of expressing aseity ( something existing in itself).
Plantinga developed the idea of maximum greatness. A being with maximal greatness will exist in every possible world

therefore, god is a necessary being in all worlds

Question 19

What are the strengths of the ontological argument

Answer 19

it holds out the hope of a proof- it is a deductive argument.If valid, it would be proof for both religious believer and atheist
it is reasonable - there are good reasons to consider the argument

Question 20

what is inductive reasoning

Answer 20

inductive reasoning is the bottom up approach, logically certain of a conclusion

Question 21

Reductio ad adsurdum

Answer 21

This method of reasoning aims to demonstrate the truth of something by reducing it to the absurdity

Question 22

What do Bertrand Russell say

Answer 22

Is there anything we can think of which we can think of it is shown to exist outside our thought?

Question 23

Psalm 53

Answer 23

The fool has said in their heart that there is no god

Question 24

Strengths of the argument

Answer 24

It holds out hope, it will be proof for a believer and atheist

Intellectually stimulating argument

Question 25

What is the ontological argument?

Answer 25

The argument rests on the premise that there is a universe but it depends on something else to exist It provides necessary explanation in the existence of a perfect being z