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The ontological argument
This document outlines the ontological argument for God's existence put forth by Anselm of Canterbury in the 11th century. The argument states that God, by definition, is that which nothing greater can be conceived. If God exists only as a concept and not in reality, a greater being could be imagined that also exists in reality. Therefore, for God to be the greatest conceivable being that can be imagined, God must exist necessarily in reality. The argument was later refined by Descartes but criticized by philosophers like Gaunilo, Aquinas, and Hume who argued existence is not a predicate or perfection and the argument assumes what it aims to prove.
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The ontological argument
- 1. THE ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT THE EXISTENCEOF GOD IS LOGICALLY THE ONLY POSSIBLE EXPLANATION
- 2.
- 3. ANSELM • Anselm ofCanterbury was a Benedictine Monk, Philosopher and Archbishop of Canterbury. • He devised the ontological argument for the existence of God. • Ontology is to do with the nature of being. • The argument works from describing the characteristics of God and concludes God must therefore exist.
- 4. THE ARGUMENT • (1) Godis that than which no greater can be conceived.(2) If God is that than which no greater can be conceived then there is nothing greater than God that can be imagined. • Therefore: (3) There is nothing greater than God that can be imagined.(4) If God does not exist then there is something greater than God that can be imagined. • Therefore:(5) God exists.
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- 6. THE ARGUMENT • Ihave an idea of supremely perfect being, i.e. a being having all perfections. • Necessary existence is a perfection. • Therefore, a supremely perfect being exists.
- 7. CRITICISM – GAUNILO (CONTEMPORARYOF ANSELM) • Perfect Island – defining something into existence. • I conceive an island than nothing greater can be conceived…etc. • We cannot fully conceive God and therefore the ontological argument cannot work.
- 8. AQUINAS •We cannot fully comprehendGod. Only if one could fully understand the nature of God could this argument work.
- 9. HUME • Existence isnot a quality or a perfection. • I can conceive something perfect as existing. • I can also conceive something perfect as not existing. • Only if the opposite was impossible could it be true.