The Ontological Argument

What is Ontology?

Philosophical study of the nature of being

Deductive Proof

A proof in which, if the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true

Give an correct example of a deductive proof using water and The Atlantic Ocean ?

Premise 1-All oceans contain water

premise 2-The Atlantic is an ocean

conclusion-Therefore the Atlantic Ocean contains water

Premises

Statements or propositions used to construct an argument

A Priori

Without or prior to evidence or experience

Who was Anselm?

11th century Archbishop of Canterbury during the Norman invasion

What book did Anselm produce his original ontological argument in?

Proslogion 2

in re

In reality

in intellectu

In the mind

What is Anselm’s analogy to support the existence of God?

Anselm uses the example of a painter and a painting, pointing out that before it exists in re , a painting must exist in intellectu before it becomes a reality

What is Anselm’s definition of God?

That than which nothing greater can be conceived

What is Anselms argument?

1. it is true by definition that God is a being TTWNGCBC

2. God exists as an idea in intellectu-when we mention God we have an understanding of what that is

3. A being that exists both in intellectu and in re is greater than the being that exists only in the mind

4. If God only exists in the mind, then something greater exists

5. But we Can’t imagine something that is greater than God- a being greater than TTWNGBCBC

What does an individual need to understand for Anselm’s argument to work?

They need to understand the concept of God-this is all that is needed for the argument to work

Why must God exist from Anselm’s argument?

To be TTWNGCBC , God must have every perfection possible(Intrinsic maximum) and it is better to exist than not to exist

What is the Intrinsic Maximum ?

The upper limits that we all agree make God,TTWNGCBC EG: Omnipotence, Omniscient, Omnibenevolent

What is Anselm’s contradiction of the atheist?

-God can’t be thought not to exist

-you can’t have the concept of God without being logically compelled to accept his existence

-you can’t be an atheist without contradiction

What Biblical scripture supports the contradiction of the atheist?

‘Truly there is a God,although the fool has said in his heart,”there is no God”.’