What is a deductive argument?
An argument based on logic and a priori knowledge forming a conclusion that is necessarily true
What is the ontological argument?
Deductive reasoning using premises based on the characteristics of God
What were Anselm’s dates and work?
1033-1109, Proslogian
What is Anselm’s first argument?
- God is a BTWNGCBC
- It is foolish to deny God because you must have a concept of God to know what not to believe in
What is Anselm’s second argument?
- Existence in ne is greater than existence in intellectu
- God is a BTWNGCBC so must exist in ne
What is Anselm’s third argument?
- A necessary being is greater than a contingent being
- God is BTWNGCBC so must be necessary
How did Anselm view atheism?
A self-delusion in order to live a life of injustice and corruption
What was Gaunilo’s work?
‘In Behalf of the Fool’
What is reductio ad absurdum?
Anselm’s argument can be used for the existence of anything at all, which is absurd
What is the perfect island analogy?
- a perfect island cannot have the deficiency of being merely a concept and so must exist
- this is clearly ridiculous
What was Anselm’s response to Gaunilo?
- God is unique with no intrinsic maximum and has a necessary existence whereas an island is contingent
What was Descartes’ work?
Meditations
What is Descartes’ ontological argument?
- God is a SPB, which humans have an innate awareness of
- Existence is a predicate of perfection
What is the triangle analogy?
A defining predicate of a triangle is that it has 3 sides and 3 internal angles
What is the mountain and valleys analogy?
It is impossible to imagine a mountain without a valley
What was Kant’s work?
Critique of Pure Reason
What was Kant’s objection to Descartes?
- predicate describes a characteristic
- existence is not a quality it just shows something has been actualised
What is the 100 thalers analogy?
If you imagine 100 thalers, the quality of existence makes no difference to the image of the thalers
What is the unicorn analogy?
A unicorn is made a unicorn by its horn, it does not require existence to be defined
What was Kant’s response to the triangle analogy?
It is a logical necessity for a triangle to have 3 angles but not for it to exist
What are Malcolm’s dates?
1911-1990
What arguments did Malcolm agree and disagree with?
- disagreed with Proslogion 2 and SPB
- agreed with Proslogion 3
What is Malcolm’s argument?
- God’s existence could be impossible, however his nature is not self-contradictory
- God’s existence could be possible, but possibility is contingent and requires an external cause
- Therefore God must be necessary
Psalms 14:1 and 53:1
‘The fool says in his heart, “there is no God”’
