If the believer accepts that God exists then the Ontological argument may be valid as an alternative way of confirming faith. ... There is no real evidence to show God's existence and some statements are poor (such as existence being predicate). Therefore the Ontological Argument is unsuccessful in proving God's existence.

Does the ontological argument fail?

If Kant's view is correct then The Ontological Argument fails, if existence is not a real predicate that is added on to the subject then to deny existence you take away the whole subject. ... Because of this the argument ultimately fails, as it claims to be a proof but that proof will never be able to be measured.

Does the ontological argument work?

Therefore, if humans cannot fully conceive of God, the ontological argument cannot work. Anselm responded to Gaunilo's criticism by arguing that the argument applied only to concepts with necessary existence. ... For that reason, Anselm dismissed any argument that did not relate to a being with necessary existence.

What is true about the ontological argument?

Ontological arguments are arguments, for the conclusion that God exists, from premises which are supposed to derive from some source other than observation of the world—e.g., from reason alone.

Did Anselm believe in God?

Anselm began with the concept of God as that than which nothing greater can be conceived. To think of such a being as existing only in thought and not also in reality involves a contradiction, since a being that lacks real existence is not a being than which none greater can be conceived.

The Ontological Argument (Argument for the Existence of God)

29 related questions found

Is Anselm's argument valid?

Anselm's argument is difficult to follow. And if it is difficult to follow, it is difficult to evaluate. ... This argument seems to be valid, since the truth of the premises would guarantee the truth of the conclusion. And it also seems to be sound, since, in addition, the premises seem to be true.

Which of the following claims must be true if the ontological argument is valid?

Which of the following claims must be true if the ontological argument is valid? It must be the case that the existence of God can be proven from the definition of our concept of God. ... According to Demea, the use of philosophical inquiry to understand the attributes of God is a pious undertaking.

What is a maximally great being?

A being has maximal greatness if it has maximal excellence in every possible world. It is possible that there is a being that has maximal greatness. (Premise) Therefore, possibly, it is necessarily true that an omniscient, omnipotent, and perfectly good being exists.

What did Anselm believe about proving God's existence?

What did Anselm believe about proving God's existence? You could do it using just the concept of God as the greatest being conceivable. St. Thomas Aquinas's first three ways are all versions of which sort of argument?

Why is the ontological argument important?

This argument is the primary locus for such philosophical problems as whether existence is a property and whether or not the notion of necessary existence is intelligible. It is also the only one of the traditional arguments that clearly leads to the necessary properties of God, such as Omnipotence, Omniscience, etc.

How did Kant refute the ontological argument?

According to Kant, the refutation of the ontological argument entails the refutation of the cosmological argument. The later infers the existence of a necessary being from the existence in general. Kant states it briefly: "If anything exists, an absolutely necessary being must also exist" (B633).

Does the ontological argument justify belief in God?

There are those who would argue that the ontological argument can certainly justify belief in God, as Anselm offers an a priori deductive argument based on the logical impossibility of a contradiction, thus proving God's existence from his definition as the GCB.

How does Descartes ontological argument differ from Anselm's?

Despite similarities, Descartes' version of the argument differs from Anselm's in important ways. ... He purports to rely not on an arbitrary definition of God but rather on an innate idea whose content is “given.” Descartes' version is also extremely simple.

What are the premises and conclusion of Anselm's ontological argument?

II): (1) God exists in the understanding but not in reality. (Supposition) (2) Existence in reality is greater than existence in the understanding alone. (Premise) (3) God's existence in reality is conceivable.

What are the 3 main arguments for the existence of God?

There is certainly no shortage of arguments that purport to establish God's existence, but 'Arguments for the existence of God' focuses on three of the most influential arguments: the cosmological argument, the design argument, and the argument from religious experience.

How did Gaunilo criticize Anselm's ontological argument?

Gaunilo criticised Anselm's argument by employing the same reasoning, via reductio ad absurdum, to "prove" the existence of the mythical "Lost Island", the greatest or most perfect island: if the island of which we are thinking does not exist, it cannot be the greatest conceivable island, for, to be the greatest ...

What is Malcolm's ontological argument?

Malcolm's ontological argument is as follows: Either God exists or does not exist. ... Therefore, if God exists, God's existence is necessary. Therefore, if God does not exist, God's existence is impossible. Therefore, God's existence is either necessary or impossible.

What is the Ontological Argument for the existence of God quizlet?

What does the Ontological Argument try to prove? God's existence from priori knowledge. This argument states that if I can conceive of God, he must exist. Things that exist in reality are superior to what exists in the mind.

What is Anselm's Ontological Argument for the existence of God quizlet?

ANSELM - THE ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT: What is the argument? 1) God is GREATER than anything anyone could ever CONCIEVE of. 2) Even the FOOL KNOWS in his heart that this is the defintion of God. 3) Therefore, God exists in the UNDERSTANDING.

What is Saint Anselm known for?

The satisfaction theory of redemption of St. Anselm of Canterbury. When Anselm left England, he had taken with him an incomplete manuscript of his work Cur Deus homo? (“Why Did God Become Man?”). After the Council of Bari, he withdrew to the village of Liberi, near Capua, and completed the manuscript in 1099.

Which of the following best characterizes the position Anselm argues for?

Only exists as a concept in our minds. Which of the following best characterizes the position Anselm argues for? ... If God exists in one's understanding, then God must exist in reality.

What is Plantinga ontological argument?

The reductio ad absurdum of Plantinga's ontological argument is that if it were sound, it would be possible to define virtually anything into existence. All a philosopher need do to grant existence to a being is simply define it in premise (29) and predicate its attributes in premises (30) and (31).

How does Anselm differentiate existing in the mind thought alone from existing both in the mind and in actuality?

Anselm argues that it is greater to exist in reality than only in the mind. ... So, if something exists only in the mind, you can think of something greater than it. But, God is a being than which no greater can be thought. So, you cannot think of anything greater than God.

How successful is the ontological argument in proving the existence of God?

If the believer accepts that God exists then the Ontological argument may be valid as an alternative way of confirming faith. ... There is no real evidence to show God's existence and some statements are poor (such as existence being predicate). Therefore the Ontological Argument is unsuccessful in proving God's existence.

Why did Anselm write the ontological argument?

Anselm started by suggesting that there is no possibility for God not to exist. He returned to his early definition of God, and suggested to be thought of as not existing would be inferior to thinking of something which must always exist. So therefore, Anselm concluded that God must necessarily exist.