Ontological argument

Question 1

name all the scholars involved?

Answer 1

1. Anselm
2. Gaunilo
3. Descartes
4. Kant
5. Aquinas
6. Russell

Question 2

what was anslems book?

Answer 2

Proslogion

Question 3

what psalms quote did Anselm refer too?

Answer 3

“the fool says in his heart there is no God”

Question 4

what was Anselm’s famous quote he believed was a universal definition of God?

Answer 4

“that than which nothing greater can be conceived.”

Question 5

continent being definition?

Answer 5

a being that can come into and out of existence , and depends on other things to exist

Question 6

what analogy did Anselm use?

Answer 6

analogy of a heap of cash on a kitchen table, better in existence than our imagination so why only make God In our imagination , better than he could possible exist

• an existent God would surpass a non-existent God

Question 7

definition of necessary being?

Answer 7

a being which doesn’t depend on anything else for existence , the only example of this is God

Question 8

what was Guanilos book?

Answer 8

‘On behalf of the fool’

Question 9

why did Guanilo disagree with Anselm?

Answer 9

believed you cannot bring something into existence by defining it as a highest being

Question 10

what analogy did gaunilo use to explain his understanding? why was it important to his argument?

Answer 10

theory of a perfect island

when idea of God is replaced with idea of perfect island, using anselsm logic would mean the island can be brought into existence, but how can the most perfect island exist? it can’t
we would be a fool to think this

Question 11

What is Gaunilo’s main critique?

Answer 11

You can’t define something into existence just by calling it the greatest.

Question 12

Why does Anselm say Gaunilo’s island analogy fails?

Answer 12

An island is contingent; God is necessary – they’re not comparable.

Question 13

Why can’t you compare God to an island?

Answer 13

God is infinite and unchanging; islands can be improved.

Question 14

What book did Descartes write his Ontological Argument in?

Answer 14

Meditations

Question 15

who did Descartes criticise for their ontological argument?

Answer 15

Aquinas

Question 16

did Descartes believe existence is part of God’s existence?

Answer 16

yes existence part of Gods existence, similar to how 3 angles on a triangle add up to 180

Question 17

finish this quote ““Existence can no more be separated..
who said this?

Answer 17

“from the essence of God than can its having three angles equal” - Meditations
by Descartes

Question 18

What kind of knowledge does Descartes think we have about God?

Answer 18

Innate knowledge – like our concept of shapes.

Question 19

whats a limitation of Descartes argument that can be counter argued? what analogy is used?

Answer 19

analogy of valley and mountains used if a place where they don’t exist together but this doesn’t mean they don’t exist together in real life

Question 20

counter argument to valley and mountains flaw of Descartes?

Answer 20

idea Gods existence different from a valley and a mountain because God is necessary and perfect

Question 21

If Descartes believed existence is perfect what does this mean about Gods existence?

Answer 21

God also perfect so he must have to always exist
God is perfect and unchangeable whereas humans are constantly in state of change and flux so we cannot live forever unlike God

Question 22

what was Kants book for the ontological argument?

Answer 22

‘Critique of pure reason’

Question 23

Kants quote
“existence……”
what did it mean?

Answer 23

“existence is not a predicate”
means existence is not an adjective to describe God like the word lilac

Question 24

CA for Kants argument with my own thoughts , what do you believe Kate

Answer 24

could be argued existence different from humanities existence which is why it can be an attribute and predicate of God

have to be aware of Gods existence before we even reject it

Question 25

what example did Kant use to explain his idea?

Answer 25

100 Prussian dollars , just by saying they exist doesn't actually bring them into existence

Question 26

Aquinas' book name?

Answer 26

'summa theologica'

Question 27

did aquinas accept an a priori argument for Gods existence? why / why not?

Answer 27

No beloved evidence of God is only shown through a posteriori arguments

Question 28

why did aquinas reject anslem? what was wrong with his argument?

Answer 28

Believed God's existence not determined through a universal definition

Question 29

what was Aquinas' first argument and second argument?

Answer 29

used the example 'truth does not exist' , can be tested to see whether this is true or not through reason and logic ie: having a conversation second argument said Anselm's universal quote doesn't put God into existence cannot empirically be proven just a statement not everyone will accept the definition by Anselm because God cannot be fully understood so how can we produce a definition of him beyond human thought?

Question 30

finish the quote by Aquinas that explains his second argument "Perhaps..."

Answer 30

"not everyone who hears the name God understands it"

Question 31

Who did Russell question?

Answer 31

Anselm

Question 32

Did Russell believe existence was a predicate?

Answer 32

No cannot be used to bring God into existence

Question 33

what example did Russell use to show his argument? what did is argue?

Answer 33

'present king of France is bald' , the words we use and how we apply them has an impact , there's no king of France who is bald this sentence doesn't bring him into existence