The document discusses three classic philosophical arguments for the existence of God:
1. The ontological argument claims that God must exist by definition since existence is greater than non-existence and God is defined as the greatest being possible.
2. The cosmological argument claims that everything in the universe requires a cause, so the universe itself must have been caused by a first cause, which is God.
3. The teleological argument claims that the order and complexity of the universe indicates intelligent design by a creator, which is God.
Philosophical presentation about existence of God and against the existence of God,Problem of Evil,teleological argument,Empirical argument,North South University,God,Monotheist,Islam,Hinduism,Christianity,
Philosophical presentation about existence of God and against the existence of God,Problem of Evil,teleological argument,Empirical argument,North South University,God,Monotheist,Islam,Hinduism,Christianity,
QUESTIONWhich of the following arguments for Gods existence .docxmakdul
QUESTION:
Which of the following arguments for God's existence do you find the most convincing, the least convincing? Why?Teleological Argument, Cosmological Argument, Ontological Argument.
Notes
Arguments for the Existence of God
Over the centuries, there have been many attempts by religious philosophers to prove the existence of God, and a canon of classic arguments has been developed. Not all of these arguments have their origins in Christian philosophy; Jewish and Muslim philosophers have made significant contributions to the philosophy of religion, and both Plato and Aristotle have influenced its development.
Recent decades have seen a rise in interest in natural theology and the philosophy of religion. Each of the classic theistic proofs has been revived and refined, presented in revised form and defended afresh. Whether any of these arguments for the existence of God is successful, of course, remains controversial.
The Arguments for the Existence of God section sets out to explain each of the common philosophical arguments for theism, and so to explore the case for the existence of God.
Arguments for the Existence of God
The arguments themselves are arranged under the following headings: Pascal’s Wager, The Ontological Argument, The Cosmological Argument (including the first cause argument), The Teleological Argument (i.e. the argument from design), The Moral Argument, and The Argument from Religious Experience.
There are, however, two preliminary issues to be dealt with: the intrinsic probability of the existence of God, which will bear on the degree of suspicion with which we view the purported theistic proofs, and reformed epistemology, which holds that belief in God can be rational even if it cannot be supported by evidence.
Pascal’s Wager
Pascal’s Wager is an argument for belief in God based not on an appeal to evidence that God exists but rather based on an appeal to self-interest. It is in our interests to believe in God, the argument suggests, and it is therefore rational for us to do so.
The claim that it is in our interests to believe in God is supported by a consideration of the possible consequences of belief and unbelief. If we believe in God, the argument runs, then if he exists then we will receive an infinite reward in heaven while if he does not then we have lost little or nothing.
If we do not believe in God, the argument continues, then if he exists then we will receive an infinite punishment in hell while he does not then we will have gained little or nothing.
Either receiving an infinite reward in heaven or losing little or nothing is clearly preferable to either receiving an infinite punishment in hell or gaining little or nothing. It is therefore in our interests, and so rational, to believe in God.
The Ontological Argument
The ontological argument is an argument that attempts to prove the existence of God through abstract reasoning alone. The argument begins with an explication of the concept of Go ...
This was for our Philosophy of Religion examination which required us to explain the arguments that prove God's existence: ontological argument ,cosmological argument ,teleological argument ,argument from conscience ,pragmatic argument ,argument from life’s crucial junctures , and argument from religious experience.
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1. Concepts of a
Higher Being
Arguments for God
Ontological, Cosmological and Teleological
2. The philosophy of religion examines the nature of religion,
explores rational arguments for and against various
religious views, analyses the nature of religious language and
explores the variety of human religious experience. This
theme allows students to explore philosophically such
questions as:
3. In short
Ontological: God is defined as the perfect being.
Existence is more perfect than non-existence. Therefore,
God exists. (St. Anselm, Descartes)
Cosmological: Every even has a cause. The universe is
an event. Therefore the universe has a cause, God. (St.
Thomas Aquinas)
Teleological: All complex things have a designer. The
universe is complex. Therefore it has a designer, God.
(Willam Paley).
4. The Ontological Argument
St. Anselm argued that we can deduce the
existence of God from the idea of God.
Just from thinking that about what God is,
we can conclude that God exists.
Therefore the ability to conceive the
idea of God, supports the fact that God
exists.
5. The argument
Anselm’s argument relies on conceivability
1. By definition, God is a being greater than
which cannot be conceived.
2. I can conceive of such a being.
3. It is greater to exist than to not exist.
4. Therefore God must exist.
6. Key points
The ontological argument is a priori; it
works from the analysis of the idea of God,
not from any fact or experience. Also called
rational thinking.
Anselm’s argument takes for granted the
idea that God is the greatest conceivable
Being. Our capacity to conceive the idea of God
makes God’s existence logical.
The conclusion of the ontological argument is
that God necessarily exists.
7. The cosmological argument
A medieval Christian thinker called Thomas
Aquinas wrote:
‘In the cosmos is it obvious that some things change. Now,
whatever changes must have been changed by something
else. And if that something else in turn changes then it must
have been changed by another. But this cannot go on to
infinity… you eventually have to arrive at something that is
unchanging. This is God!’
The cosmological argument is an argument from natural
theology; the view that we can understand the nature and
existence of God through his work in creation. Which is
accessible to all humans, through experience, rather than
through reason.
8. The argument
1. Nothing can happen by itself
2. Everything that happens must be caused
by something else.
3. The universe could not have just
‘happened’ by itself.
4. A very powerful force must have caused
it into being.
5. This cause must have been God.
6. This means that God must exist!
9. The teleological argument
The teleological theory is often called the
argument for design. It is based on
observation of the apparent order in the
universe and the natural world, to conclude
that it is not the result of mere chance, but
of design.
The argument makes the basic assumption
that there is order and design in the
universe, and that all things function to
fulfill a specific purpose.
10. The argument
1. The world is so well ordered and
everything is balanced to sustain life.
The world is so beautiful and complex,
with interdependent parts making a
whole.
2. This complex world must therefore have
been designed.
3. If it is designed, it must have a designer.
4. The only being powerful enough to
design the universe is God.
5. So God must therefore exist.
11. Task
1. Read the material for ONE of the
arguments for God (including criticisms)
2. In groups discuss what you have read.
3. Answer the following question:
Define the argument for the existence of
God and discuss its strengths and
weaknesses.