Ontological argument key terms

Apologetics

A rational defense of the Christian faith

A priori

Without or prior to existence

Aseity

The quality of not being dependent on any other thing or being for ones existence

Deductive argument

An argument in which; if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true

Factual necessity

A phrase used by John Hick to refer to a necessary being that is eternal, uncaused, indestructible and incorruptable

In intellectu

Philosophical term meaning “in the mind”

In re

Philosophical term meaning “in reality”

Logical necessity

Something is logically necessary is true by definition

Necessary beings

Beings which if they exist, cannot not exist; being that are not dependant on any other for their existence

Omnipotence

The characteristic of being all powerful

Omniscience

The characteristic of being all-knowing of all things actual and possible

Ontological argument

Argument for the existence of God based on the concept the nature of being

Predicate

Something that adds to our concept of the subject

Reductio ad absurdum

“Reduced to absurdity”

Supremely perfect being

This relates to Anselm’s concept of God’s necessary existence