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Ontological argument - Coggle Diagram
Ontological argument
Background
is a priori argument which means it is not based on our experiences and a deductive and analytical argument
St Anslem
was archbishop of Canterbury and devised the OA, 'I believe in order to understand'. existence is predicate which means that true statement ( elephants are mammals). God is a being which cannot be improved upon. To think of greater means that being God is not the greatest being.
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Anselm says that whoever denies God has a concept of god in their mind, so therefore undermines atheists. They understand the concept of God even if they choose not to believe.
analogy of the painter
the painter knows what to paint before painting. it exists in his understanding
Anselm is saying that 'because I think God he must exist'
Supporters of the OA
Descartes
pondered on the nature of existance. 'cogito ergo sum'. He doubted he knew anything then realised that the only thing he could know is what he was thinking 'I think therefore I am'. He had a concept go God in his undertanding
1) whatever belongs to the essence of something cannot be destroyed
2) Gods essence includes existance
3) therefore existence must be affirmed by God
Norman Malcom
God is a necessary being so must exist. His existance is disputed. If he does exist then his existence is necessary. God cannot be impossible so must exist
Plantinga
'in a possible world there must exist X' There must ve a possible world which there exists a maximal greatness. if they exist in one possible world then they must exist in all possible world. Our world is a possible world
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Critiscms
Guanilo
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Athiests don't really have an understanding of God. they recognise the word but do not have an idea of who God is. Not having God in there heart doesn't mean they are a fool. They know the word God but does not imply they have a meaningful idea of God
I can conceive an island that no greater island can be concieved
such an island must possess all perfections
exsistance= perfection
therefore the island exists
Kant
existance is a predicate- an attribute that can only be possessed or lacked. We cannot make assumptions about something that is beyond experience. We don't experience god.
Hume
considered it a failure because it made false assumptions. Existence can only ever be contingent and all statements about existance can be contradicted
proslogian
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2
P1: God is that than which no greater can be concieved P2: it is greater to exist in reality than just the mind Conc: God must existence in reality too not just the mind
he describes God as ' that which no greater can be concieved. he observed that anybody who doubts Gods existence is a fool. The doubter must have a concept of God in there mind. Anselm believe the doubters are saying 'God who exists, doesn't exist'