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AS Religious Studies > Ontological argument > Flashcards

Ontological argument Flashcards

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1
Q

What type of argument is the OA?

A

Deductive

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2
Q

What type of knowledge does the OA use?

A

A priori

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3
Q

What are synthetic statements?

A

Statements which can be empirically verified/falsified

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4
Q

What are analytical statements?

A

Statements which are true by definition and based on logic/reasoning

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5
Q

What is a subject?

A

The ‘who’ or ‘what/ the sentence is about

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6
Q

What is a predicate?

A

The quality/ new information about the subject

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7
Q

Identify the subject and the predicate in this sentence: Joe is bald

A

Subject = Joe
Predicate = bald

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8
Q

What is a necessary truth?

A

A proposition which could not possible be false

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9
Q

Give an example of a necessary truth

A

2+2 = 4

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10
Q

What is a necessary being?

A

A being which cannot not exist

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11
Q

What is a contingent being?

A

A being which relies on something else to exist

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12
Q

What is the OA based on?

A

Claim that God’s existence can be deduced from his definition

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13
Q

What happens when God is correctly defined?

A

There can be no doubt that he exists

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14
Q

How is the OA a deductive argument?

A

‘God exists’ is true without sense experience - can know it is true just by thinking about it

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15
Q

What is the subject and predicate in this sentence: God exists

A

Subject = God
Predicate = Exists

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16
Q

Anselm’s 1st argument as a syllogism

A

P1: God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived
P2: It is greater to exist in reality than to exist only in the mind
C: As the greatest conceivable being. God must exist in reality

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17
Q

What is Psalm 14:1?

A

The fool says in his heart there is no God

18
Q

How does Anselm use Psalm 14:1 in his argument?

A

Even the fool understands in his mind, even though he does not understand it to exist in reality

19
Q

What does Anselm mean by ‘greatest being’?

A

Omnipotent, omniscient etc

20
Q

What was Gaunilo responding on behalf of?

A

On behalf of the fool

21
Q

What analogy did Gaunilo use to criticise the OA?

A

The perfect lost island analogy

22
Q

Island analogy as a syllogism?

A

P1: It is possible to conceive of the most perfect and real lost island
P2: It is greater to exist in reality than to exist only in the mind
C: The most perfect and lost island must exist in reality

23
Q

What is reductio ad absurdum?

A

Argument to absurdity

24
Q

What is Gaunilo suggesting about Anselm’s argument?

A

His argument can be used to prove the existence of an endless number of perfect objects

25
Q

Finish the quote: God cannot be conceived not to exist …. That which can be conceived not to exist

A

is not God

26
Q

Criticisms of Island analogy?

A
  1. An island is a contingent thing
  2. It is impossible to quantify the idea of a perfect island
  3. Your conception of the perfect island may change over time
27
Q

Anselm’s second argument as a syllogism?

A

P1: God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived
P2: The greatest conceivable being cannot be conceived not to exist
C: God alone is a necessary being - God cannot not exist

28
Q

Whose version of the Ontological argument was Kant criticising?

A

Descartes

29
Q

What was Descartes’ definition of God?

A

God is ‘the supremely perfect being’

30
Q

Explain this quote: Existence can no more be separated from the essence of God than the fact that its three angles equal two right angles can be separated from the essence of a triangle

A

A triangle has 3 sides with 2 equal right angles cannot be disputed

In the same way God cannot be disputed

31
Q

Explain Kant’s first criticism: Existence is not a predicate

A

Real predicates give us new knowledge of a subject. Exists tells you nothing of the existence of ‘it’

32
Q

Kant’s first criticism: Existence is not a predicate - what example did he use?

A

Thalers - a coin used during Kant’s time. Real predicates would be ‘bronze, round, metallic’

33
Q

Kant’s second criticism: God exists necessarily - explain

A

God exists necessarily is logically true but doesn’t mean that God actually exists in reality

34
Q

How can we fix the Ontological argument?

A

By adding the word ‘if’ - ‘if’ there is a God then God exists necessarily

35
Q

Strength: Deductive argument

A

Deductive arguments are 100% true if the premises are true

36
Q

Strength: Does not rely on empirical experience

A

Empirical evidence can be flawed/can change and is not always reliable

37
Q

Strength: Aide to faith

A

Karl Barth: OA can help people express their faith

38
Q

Proof: Deductive argument?

A

Deductive arguments are 100% true if the premise is true

39
Q

Proof: A priori?

A

True by definition rather than relying on empirical evidence

40
Q
A

AS Religious Studies (5 decks)

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