Proofs for God's Existence and Anselm's Arguments

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the proofs for God's existence and Anselm's ontological arguments as discussed in the lecture.

Teleological Argument

Also called 'The Argument from Design', it states that nature exhibits a design, which implies a designer.

Cosmological Argument

An argument stating that the universe exists; thus, something must have caused its existence, which is God.

Ontological Argument

An argument that claims God exists based on the premise that the concept of God is self-evident.

Necessary Being

A being that must exist and cannot not exist, often associated with God in ontological arguments.

Great-making Property

A property that makes a being greater; in Anselm's argument, existence is claimed to be a great-making property.

Gaunilo's Critique

A challenge to Anselm's argument suggesting that using similar reasoning could prove the existence of nonexistent entities, like the Best of all Possible Islands.

Existence as a Perfection

The idea that a thing is more perfect if it exists rather than if it does not exist, which is debated in critiques of the ontological argument.

Proslogion

A work by Anselm where he formulates his ontological argument for the existence of God.

That than which nothing greater can be thought

A phrase used by Anselm to define God, which is central to his ontological argument.

Self-evident

A statement or proposition that is clear and does not require proof; used by Anselm in his argument for God's existence.