Outline Descartes’ Ontological Argument and explain the key objections that may be used against it. Descartes took the Ontological Argument as presented by Anselm and developed it in a different form. Descartes saw the argument in terms of necessary existence. For Descartes‚ the idea of God necessarily entails his existence. He established that our thoughts are evidence of our own existence (‘I think therefore I am’)‚ and so wanted to see what else he could prove exists. He used the example of a
Premium Ontology Metaphysics Logic
Descartes was a foundationalist. His goal was to find certain indubitable ideas to use as a foundation to build his thoughts. His aim was to find a single or multiple certainties to build his thoughts off of. Descartes figures that if he can come up with a hyperbolic doubt and some idea can still survive through this ultimate doubt then this is the most certain scenario. This hyperbolic doubt becomes to believe is‚ “ not that there is a supremely good God who is the source of all truth‚ but that
Premium God Good and evil Problem of evil
Anselm’s argument did lead to objections as most do. The first was that of a Monk Named Gaunilo‚ who argued against Anselm’s ontological Argument with the use of the concept of a perfect island. Gaunilo argued that concept of a perfect island does not prove that the existence of an island. In this case that perfection does not imply ‘existence’. Gaunilo claims that if the word God was replaced with the words perfect island‚ then Anselm’s ontological argument would not conclude that the perfect island
Premium Existence God Metaphysics
A defense of the ontological argument Daniel Andrews In this essay I will first explain the ontological argument and my reasons for choosing it. I will then discuss why I believe it is a better account for the existence of god than the teleological argument and the cosmological argument. I will then move onto discuss various theologians that oppose the ontological argument and critique their responses. The aim of the essay if to show the strength of the argument and to expose some key weaknesses
Premium Ontology Metaphysics Ontological argument
particular philosophers who have formed strong opinions and arguments to address the question at hand and seem to have it all figured out. Philosophy and religion do indeed have an unsettled relationship‚ but this relationship only challenges minds‚ inspires people to think‚ and allows others to obtain a deeper and more detailed perspective. The philosopher St. Anselm presents an argument known as “The Ontological
Premium Teleological argument God David Hume
One of the most interesting arguments for the Existence of God comes from Anselm and the Ontological argument. According to the Ontological argument‚ there is no reason to go out and look for physical evidence of God’s existence. The ontological argument is based completely on reason and comes from the concept of a “being than which no greater can be conceived.” Anselm suggested that if such a “being” does not truly exist then a greater being can be conceived. But how does this make any sense? Nothing
Premium Ontology Metaphysics Existence
The Ontological Argument P| 1. Definition: God is that being than which no greater being can be conceived. P| 2. God exists in the mind (we think of God). A| 3.Assume God exists only in the mind but not in reality (Atheism) 3 4. Then we can conceive of a being just like God but which also exists in reality. P | 5. Existence is perfection. If two things are alike in all respects except the first exists in reality and the second
Premium Ontology Metaphysics Existence
had tackled the different arguments that were made by different philosophers which concerns about the existence of God. Its aim is to deepen our understanding of certain religious concepts and beliefs as it tries to critically analyze and examine through the method of philosophical inquiry. Philosophy of religion does not simply study what we believe but more significantly‚ subject these beliefs to rigorous rational criticism and assessment. Anselm’s Ontological Argument is an ideal of a purely analytic
Premium Ontology Metaphysics Existence
I) Examine the ways in which the Ontological argument attempts to prove to the atheist that God exists. There are many different forms of the ontological argument for the existence of God. The first being an argument postulated by Anselm in the Proslogian. The ontological argument is a priori meaning knowledge is independent of experience an analytical meaning from logic. The Ontological argument follows the analytic method of knowledge; in this instance‚ for example‚ this is to be found when Anselm
Premium Ontology Metaphysics Existence
truly say that I have found Saint Anselm Ontological Argument to be very interesting and I was so fascinated by his life and the stand he took to prove his reasoning in his argument. In fact Anselm’s most famous work is his attempt to prove the existence of God in the Proslogion (or discourse) known now as the “Ontological argument.” I also found it very interesting that Mr. Immanuel Kant‚ another great philosopher in my view said the ontological argument attempts to show that which we can conceive
Premium God Christianity Jesus