The Ontological Argument

Question 1

What quote by St Anselm is the foundation of the argument?

Answer 1

“God is that in which nothing greater can be conceived”

Question 2

What are the steps to Anselm’s 1st argument?

Answer 2

• God is that which nothing greater can be concieved
• If God exists in the mind alone, then a greater being could be imagined to exist
• This being would be greater than God
• Therefore God can’t exist in the mind alone
• God must exist in both the mind and reality

Question 3

Outline Gaunalio’s island criticism.

Answer 3

• Imagine a perfect island
• Because it is “most perfect” it must exist in both the mind and reality
• However, the island does not exist
• Anselm’s first argument isn’t successful

Question 4

How does Anselm respond to Gaunilo’s challenge?

Answer 4

• There are 2 types of existence, necessary and contingent
• An island has contingent existence. It depends on other things for it to exist.
• God has necessary existence. He does not depened on anything to exist.

Question 5

Outline Anselm’s 2nd ontological argument

Answer 5

• God is the greatest possible being
• It is greater to be necessary than to be contingent
• If God is contingent, a greater being can be imagined
• God must be a necessary being and exist in reality

Question 6

What is meant by a predicate?

Answer 6

A word that describes a person/object

Question 7

Outline Descartes’ ontological argument.

Answer 7

• God is a supremely perfect being;
• Existence is part of perfection (a predicate)
• Therefore, if God is perfect he must exist.

Question 8

How does Kant critique Descartes’ ontological argument?

Answer 8

Kant did not agree that God’s existence was apparent and would not accept existence based on definition. ​

Question 9

How did Kant critique all 3 ontological arguments?

Answer 9

• Existence is not a predicate so the ontological argument is based on a mistake
• If you accept God and then reject his necessary existence there is a contradiction. If you reject the concept of God then there is no contradiction.​

Question 10

How does Thomas Aquinas critique the ontological argument?

Answer 10

• To define something implies we have an understanding of something. ​
• Aquinas says God exists outside of our universe (transcendent). Therefore, God is beyond understanding. ​
• God is necessary and we are contingent so we cannot be confident that our definition of God is adequate. ​

Question 11

How does Alvin Plantinga critique the ontological argument?

Answer 11

• You cant make a blind person accept that a red dress is red by definition, much like you cant make an athiest accept God by definition