Philosophers have used two main methods as a means of proving this; either a priori or a posteriori. A priori reasoning or knowledge can be achieved without any experience or knowledge from the outside world. The ideas are said to be innate or we already have a notion of knowledge when we are born. This is the method René Descartes uses in his arguments in his work Meditations on First Philosophy. Descartes uses a priori to its strengths and weaknesses. In my opinion a priori reasoning has its weaknesses
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Ontological Argument Essay A:Explain the traditional forms of the Ontological argument as put forward by Anselm and Descartes: When considering an argument for God‚ the ontological argument is one of the most intriguing. Mainly because of it’s a priori nature‚ differing from other popular theological arguments which are a posteriori such as the cosmological argument. This means the ontological argument is understood to be true analytically on its own terms without an appeal to experience. Because
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This paper will seek to summarize and analyze Richard Taylor’s "cosmological argument." In the cosmological argument as presented by Richard Taylor he states that there is an explanation behind everything regardless of whether it is teleological or not‚ and that the universe requires an explanation. This is known principle of sufficient reason. In his argument he states: “-there is some explanation for the existence of anything whatever‚ some reason why it should exist rather than not. The sheer
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Abstract: I will be discussing Michael Smith argument against moral realism.I will restate his points then argue with him against moral realism. I do not agree with his point completely but‚ i will show and give kudos there they are needed. In addition with my argument i will be introducing our good friend David Hume and his argument in opposition for anti-realism. Lastly‚ i will offer my personal opinion on ways i disagree and yet‚ agree with some aspects on moral realism. Realism
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The eye is a complex organ than has brought about much debate in the world of science. The primary focus of the debate is whether or not there is a God based on the design of the human eye. Many argue that the eye is proof that there is no God because of its backward design. However‚ some people‚ such as Bergman‚ believe that this backward design proves the opposite. Bergman and fellow believers argue that this design is more complex and a much better design than what a big bang and evolution could
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In his paper Alternate Possibilities and Moral Responsibilities‚ Frankfurt presented his compatibilism view regarding to the issue of whether human beings have free will. However‚ after a thorough inspection into his arguments and the cases which he employed to support his reasoning‚ I find myself unconvinced by his logic. In the following‚ I shall illustrate the Frankfurt-style argument‚ examine the fallacies within his reasoning‚ argue that why I consider compatibilism to be false‚ and finally
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Argument For the Existence of God : A Critical Evaluation There have been many theories for and against the existence of God. For example: the Faith- based Arguments‚ Pascal’s Wager‚ James’s Will to Believe‚ the Contingency Argument and several more. The argument being analysed here however is Ontological argument given by St. Anselm and its counter-argument. In St. Anselm’s argument‚ God has been thought by the definition: ‘the entity (or being) than which none greater can be conceived’
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The unique works of pre-Socratic philosophers was the use a very early form of scientific thinking through speculative inquiry and later rational inquiry. These pre-Socratic philosophers were searching for the very first fundamental principles or causes called Arche. Their thinking was based speculative and rational inquiry in the subjects of cosmology and were often critical of mythopoetic tales and cosmogony. 16. What was Thales looking for? Thales was looking for the basic stuff‚ known as physis
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The cosmos as we know is the essential structure and origin of the universe. The cosmos provide an understanding for how the world works. TImaeus presents a very interesting view of his idea on the structure and composition of the cosmos. Passages 28a and 28b of Timaeus accounts for Plato’s perspective on the creation of the world. As we read passage 28a… “What is that which always is and has no becoming‚ and what is that which becomes but never is?…..So whenever the craftsman looks at what is always
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Metaphysical realism to my understanding is the world as an independent entity and what it contains outside of how we as humans perceive it to be. Basically‚ it is what it is. The objects and beings within the world exist and define the nature of what is. There are two conventional aspects to realism by looking at everyday objects and their properties. The first is a claim about existence. Take black holes for instance. No scientist has actually ever seen one‚ but theory predicts they exist‚ same
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