PHI 107 Week 2 Ontological & Cosmological Arguments - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts from week 2 topics: Apriori vs a posteriori, Ontological Argument, Reduction Ad Absurdum, coherence of the idea of God, existence as a perfection, Gaunilo’s Perfect Island, Kant’s critique, Simple Basic Cosmological Argument, and common objections with possible responses.

Apriori proposition

A proposition knowable independently of experience (by reason). Example: All bachelors are unmarried.

A posteriori proposition

A proposition knowable only through experience or empirical observation. Example: Water boils at 100°C at sea level.

Ontological Argument (OA)

An a priori argument that God's existence follows from the concept of God as a necessarily existing, maximally great being.

Reduction Ad Absurdum (RAA)

An indirect proof technique: assume the opposite of the conclusion and derive a contradiction, then infer the original conclusion.

Premise 1 of Ontological Argument (coherence of God)**

The idea of God as a being than which nothing greater can be conceived is coherent and possible.

Existence as a Perfection

The claim that existence is a perfection or great-making property; existing in reality makes a being greater than existing only in the mind.

Gaunilo’s Perfect Island

Gaunilo’s objection that applying the Ontological move to a ‘perfect island’ would force its existence, suggesting the argument’s move is fallacious.

Kant’s existence critique (predicate issue)

Kant argues existence is not a real predicate that adds to a concept; distinguishes questions about concepts from questions about existence (e.g., zebras vs unicorns) and challenges the OA; Rowe offers a counterpoint.

Simple Basic Cosmological Argument (SBCA)

A basic cosmological argument: Everything that begins to exist has a cause; the universe began to exist; therefore there is a first cause (often identified as God).

Objection to SBCA Premise 1

Questioning whether “everything that begins to exist has a cause” is valid, e.g., due to possible uncaused events or brute facts (quantum events, universe as brute fact).

Objection to SBCA Premise 2

Questioning whether the first cause must be God; the first cause could be an impersonal or different kind of cause, not necessarily the God of theism.

Ping-pong in argumentation (SBCA context)**

The back-and-forth process of modifying premises in response to objections (e.g., adding necessity or a specific kind of cause) to preserve the argument; describes ongoing debate.