criticism of OA

Question 1

who are the 2 main critics of OA?

Answer 1

Gaunilo and Kant

Question 2

what are Gaunilo’s 3 arguments?

Answer 2

gossip
defining things into existence
Gaunilo’s island

Question 3

explain Gaunilo’s gossip argument:

Answer 3

the fool could have in his mind all sorts of things that do not exist in reality

it is unreliable (like gossip) so God’s existence may be unreliable

Question 4

explain Gaunilo’s defining things into existence:

Answer 4

you can’t demonstrate the existence of something just by having an idea about it
just because you may think God exists doesn’t make God a being

Question 5

explain Gaunilo’s island analogy:

Answer 5

he suggests anyone can think of the most perfect island
it is better to exist in reality than in the mind
this does not mean the island exists

Question 6

Anselm’s responses to Gaunilo:
(2 points + quote)

Answer 6

God’s existence is necessary, an island is contingent

‘God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived’

if you think of the greatest possible being you conceive a being which can’t be conceived not to exist (something as great as God is too great not to exist)

Question 7

what are Kant’s 2 criticisms?

Answer 7

existence is not a predicate

can accept existing necessarily is part of what we mean by God but this doesn’t mean God actually exists in reality

Question 8

Kant’s example of existence is not a predicate:

Answer 8

a thaler

can describe it as round, gold etc

saying a thaler exists does not provide us with any new knowledge