ontological argument. teleological argument depends upon evidence about the nature of the world and...

Ontological ArgumentOntological Argument


TeleologicalTeleological argument depends argument depends upon evidence about the nature upon evidence about the nature of the world and the organisms of the world and the organisms and objects in it.and objects in it.

CosmologicalCosmological argument is based on argument is based on the observation that something, the observation that something, rather than nothing exists.rather than nothing exists.

What What typestypes of arguments are these of arguments are these by definition?by definition?



Because this argument does not Because this argument does not rely on external evidence or rely on external evidence or sense experience it is what sense experience it is what sort of argument?sort of argument?


Warburton states (p.18) that it is Warburton states (p.18) that it is an attempt to show that the an attempt to show that the existence of God necessarily existence of God necessarily followsfollows from the definition of from the definition of God as the supreme being. God as the supreme being. Because this conclusion can be Because this conclusion can be drawn drawn priorprior to experience it is to experience it is a a prioripriori argument argument


Once we understand the Once we understand the concept of God i.e. perfection, concept of God i.e. perfection, we will realise that we will realise that perfectionperfection must include must include existenceexistence in in order to be order to be perfectperfect. .


St. AnselmSt. Anselm (1033-1109) (1033-1109)

Defined God to mean ‘that Defined God to mean ‘that than which nothing greater than which nothing greater can be conceived’can be conceived’



He also asked what is He also asked what is greater – God as an idea or greater – God as an idea or God as an existing thing?God as an existing thing?

He went for God as an He went for God as an existing thingexisting thing



1)1) God is the greatest God is the greatest conceivable entityconceivable entity

Can you think of anything Can you think of anything ‘greater’?‘greater’?



2) God can be thought of as 2) God can be thought of as an idea an idea oror as existing as existing

What is the difference?What is the difference?



3) Existence is perfection i.e. 3) Existence is perfection i.e. it is better to exist than not it is better to exist than not to existto exist

If we exist, does this mean we If we exist, does this mean we are perfect? Can existence are perfect? Can existence be defined as a property?be defined as a property?



4) Therefore, God exists.4) Therefore, God exists.5) Since existence is part of 5) Since existence is part of

the definition of God, God the definition of God, God doesn’t just exist, He doesn’t just exist, He exists exists necessarilynecessarily. This . This means it is impossible for means it is impossible for God to stop existing or God to stop existing or not to have always existednot to have always existed



The Great Chain Of BeingThe Great Chain Of Being

Hierarchical scaleHierarchical scale


The Great Chain Of BeingThe Great Chain Of BeingGodGod

AngelsAngelsHumansHumansAnimalsAnimalsPlantsPlants

ElementsElementsPropertiesProperties

IdeasIdeasNon-existenceNon-existence



What is non-existence?What is non-existence?

What are ideas?What are ideas?

What are properties?What are properties?



If the chain is correct, then, If the chain is correct, then, existence is part of it by existence is part of it by definition – therefore God definition – therefore God not only exists but He is not only exists but He is also perfectalso perfect



Descartes argued that the Descartes argued that the Ontological Argument was Ontological Argument was as rational as the sum of a as rational as the sum of a triangles interior angles triangles interior angles will always be 180 will always be 180 degreesdegrees


Task p. 30Task p. 30


CriticismsCriticisms

1)1) Leads to absurd Leads to absurd consequencesconsequences

GauniloGaunilo said it allowed us to said it allowed us to define all sorts of things define all sorts of things into existence into existence



This means that if we This means that if we imagine the most perfect imagine the most perfect thing then it existsthing then it exists

Plato used a similar Plato used a similar argument but called it argument but called it FormsForms



Gaunilo stated it was a Gaunilo stated it was a faulty argument because faulty argument because it did not workit did not work

He used the analogy of a He used the analogy of a perfect islandperfect island

Warburton uses the perfect Warburton uses the perfect beachbeach



Anselm countered that the Anselm countered that the argument only applies to argument only applies to GodGod

Why?Why?



2) Existence is not a 2) Existence is not a property property

Kant refutes Descartes claim Kant refutes Descartes claim that God’s existence was that God’s existence was as rational as the angles as rational as the angles of a triangleof a triangle



Kant argued that existence Kant argued that existence is not a quality because is not a quality because saying that something saying that something exists doesn’t tell us any exists doesn’t tell us any new characteristic of new characteristic of somethingsomething



What is the defining property of What is the defining property of a bachelor?a bachelor?

What is the defining property of What is the defining property of being homosexual?being homosexual?

What is the defining property of What is the defining property of being vegetarian? being vegetarian?



These are defining properties These are defining properties and they could not be and they could not be applied unless the people applied unless the people actually existedactually existed

Therefore, Therefore, perfection/greatness rely perfection/greatness rely upon existence and not the upon existence and not the other way around other way around


Possible answerPossible answer

Existence is a special type of Existence is a special type of propertyproperty

All other properties depend All other properties depend upon existenceupon existence


3) 3) You cannot define God You cannot define God into existenceinto existence

Acceptance of God’s Acceptance of God’s existence does not define existence does not define the way the world really isthe way the world really is


3) 3) You cannot define God You cannot define God into existenceinto existence

We can define the existence We can define the existence of a cow because we know of a cow because we know what it iswhat it is

Does this work for God?Does this work for God?

ontological argument. teleological argument depends upon evidence about the nature of the world and...

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