Ontological Argument Learning Materials

Type of argument Deductive and prior key thinkers St Anselm Gaunilo Descartes Kant St. Anselm Proslogion chapters 2 and 3 favour of God's existence by definition Chapter 2 quote "We believe you to be something than which nothing greater can be conceived" This is the definition he gives to God Anselm's Analogy Painter and painting When the painting is in the painters mind he lacks the understanding of what it means for the painting to be a reality. What is Reduction ad absurdum If God exists in the mind he must exist in reality as it is greater to actually exist than to exist in the mind alone . God exists by definition alone Psalm 14 "The fool says in heart there is no God" Chapter 3 quote "Why has the fool said in his heart that there is no God when it is evident to a rational mind that your being is the greatest of all? why-unless because he is stupid and a fool" Gaunilo "On behalf of the fool" Thought Anselm's assertions were trash World view of Anselm and Gaunilo Sacred On gossip We are all susceptible to taking gossip for fact especially the foolish. Just bc you can think of something doesn't make it real On defining things into existence Accuses Anselm for defining things into existence. His definition should be " IF GOD EX1/3 ISTS THEN god must be that than which nothing greater can be conceived" Perfect Island analogy Uses reduction ad absurdum to prove his point Saying something is greater than something else does not mean it exists Anslem's Response to Gaunilo God is in a special category God is a necessary being unlike the island Cannot liken the idea of God to an Island Decartes Discourse on Method Opinion on Anselm Insults and open arguments are incompatible. The same as a child he's the fastest and if you think otherwise you're stupid. Problems w Anselm Circular logic Doesn't address if God exists Descartes' method -You should only only accept truths which are self -evident -If you have difficulties these should be divided up into smaller parts so that they are easier to deal with -Think abt the simplest ideas in an issue and work up to me complicated ones -Before coming to a conclusion make sure everything is considered I think therefore i am Our senses give us faulty information I am thinking I must exist If I don't exist no one can make me think I do Contradictory to think that my existence is an illusion Descartes' view of God Supremely perfect is his definition of God Our idea of perfection must come from somewhere 2/3 Predicates Ascribing a property to something A bicycle has 2 wheels, it must have 2 wheels to be considered a bicycle Predicates and God's existence By definition God is supremely perfect existence is apart of perfection Analogy of Mountains and Valleys Cannot have a mountain wout a valley Kant Two errors in logic with statement that "God has necessary existence" Two types of statements Analytical True for false All bachelors are unmarried The predicate is contained in the subject. Synthetic Have to test if its true or false all bachelors are black God has necessary existence Synthetic statement, need to experience God to make it an analytical statement The predicate is not contained in the subject Kant's other argument A predicate must tell you something more abt the property of something All bicycles have 2 wheels and exist Saying they exists tells u nothing more abt the nature Existence is not a predicate 3/3