Arguments For God - Ontological Argument

Who created the Ontological Argument?

Anselm

What type of philosophical argument The Ontological Argument?

a priori and deductive

Anselm's definition of God

That which nothing greater can be conceived

Anselm's 1st Ontological Argument

God = that which nothing greater can be conceived; things = better in reality than in just mind; God must exist in reality or God isn't greatest thing that can be conceived

Gaunilo's Criticism

You can apply Anselm's reasoning to anything e.g. the Perfect Island (but it doesn't mean it exists)

Necessary Being

A being whose non-existence is impossible

Contingent Being

A being whose existence depends on something else; does not have to exist

Anselm's Second Ontological Argument

"Only God is that which nothing greater can be conceived; God must be a necessary being as it is greater to be necessary than to be contingent; God is a necessary being

Kant's First Criticism

'God exists' = a tautology = analytic statements = just ideas = not actual statements about reality = statement about the idea of God not real God

Kant's Second Criticism

Existence is not a predicate - does not add anything to your description; the fact that something could exist does not mean it actually exists

Rejecto ad absurdum

Trying to get your opponent's argument/claim to fall into contradiction