The Ontological Argument: Kant

Question 1

Kant: point one

Answer 1

we have no clear idea of a necessary being (sim to aquinas)God is defined largely in negatives rather than positives, saying what gos is not, no what god is

Question 2

Kant: point two

Answer 2

the only necessity is where statements are necessary because of the langue used The necessity applies to propositions and not reality Words don’t create reality

Question 3

Kant Point Two

Answer 3

what is logically possible, may not be ontologically possible It is true a unicorn must have a horn, but that doesn’t mean unicorns are real

Question 4

Kant’s point 4

Answer 4

existence is not a predicate (a condition) of perfection Also applies to Anselm Adding existence to a definition doesn’t add anything about the definition

Question 5

Kant’s triangle

Answer 5

if you remove the predicate of existence from the definition of a triangle, it is still a triangle by definition

Question 6

Kant Summary

Answer 6

An absolutely perfect being must have all possible perfections,Existence is a possible perfectionTherefore an absolutely perfect being must have existence as one of its perfections.Kant rejects (2). One can have an idea of something, but however much you develop the idea, you have to go outside it by getting evidence from experience as to whether or not it exists.