Ontological Argument

Anselm

creator of the ontological argument

the type of argument of the ontological argument

a priori

a priori argument

arguments gained through reasoning, and not our senses and experience

What the ontological argument is NOT trying to do

Prove God. It is demonstrating what is already true

quote from the bible the ontological argument is based off

“Fools say in their heart “There is no God””

Anselm’s first premise

God is that which nothing greater can be conceived

Anselm's second premise

God may exist only in the mind, or in reality as well

Anselm’s third premise

Something that exists in the mind and reality is greater than something that just exists in the mind

Anselm’s conclusion

God must exist in reality and the mind

what Anselm considered the atheist view

reduction to the absurd

What Anselm considered existence

A predicate

a predicate

a description or attribute that tells us something about the subject

the biggest critic of Anselm

Gaunilo

Gaunilo’s first criticism against existence as a predicate

Gossip can make you make you think things that only exist in the mind

Gaunilo’s second criticism against existence as a predicate

You cannot define things into existence just by having an idea about it

Gaunilo’s biggest criticism against existence as a predicate

If I had the idea of the greatest island, and then followed Anselm’s logic, I would be saying I had proof of a non existent island

Anselm’s response to Gaunilo’s criticism

God is THE perfect thing, the island has no intrinsic maximum

Kant’s criticism of Anselm

Existence is not a predicate

Descartes defense of Anselm

You cannot have a triangle without 3 sides. You also cannot have God who does not exist. They are both illogical.