The Ontological Argument: Proof of God's Existence, Study notes of Introduction to Philosophy

Download The Ontological Argument: Proof of God's Existence and more Study notes Introduction to Philosophy in PDF only on Docsity! The Ontological Argument God =df the being than which none greater can be conceived. Anselm’s argument: 1) Assume, for reductio, that God does not exist. 2) Therefore, the being than which none greater can be conceived exists in the imagination alone. 3) It is greater to exist in reality than in the imagination alone. 4) We can conceive of God as existing. 5) Therefore, we can conceive of a greater being than the being than which none greater can be conceived (viz, a God who exists in reality!) 6) This is a contradiction: We can’t conceive of anything greater than the greatest being we can conceive of! 7) Therefore, God exists. Gaunilo’s“argument”: 1) Assume, for reductio, that the perfect island does not exist. 2) Therefore, the island than which none greater can be conceived exists in the imagination alone. 3) It is greater to exist in reality than in the imagination alone. 4) We can conceive of the perfect island as existing. 5) Therefore, we can conceive of an island being than the island than which none greater can be conceived (viz, a perfect island that exists in reality!) 6) This is a contradiction: We can’t conceive of an island greater than the greatest island we can conceive of! 7) Therefore, the perfect island exists. Modal ontological argument: 1) It is greater to exist necessarily than contingently 2) It is possible that God exists 3) Therefore, it is possible that it is necessary that God exists 4) If something is possibly necessary, then it is necessary that God exists (S5 axiom) 5) Therefore, God necessarily exists 6) If something necessarily exists, than it exists. 7) Therefore, God exists