Ontological Argument Essay Plan

Grade received with this plan:

Simple Version

Intro: The ontological argument is unconvincing

P1: Criticism, Gaunilo’s perfect island

P2: Response, Gaunilo’s island is based on a contingent being, not a necessary one

P3: Counterargument, Gaunilo may not be sufficient, but Kant’s is

P4: Perceived strength, Plantinga’s ontological argument with possible worlds

P5: Criticism, Davies → possible existence of God does not automatically entail that there actually is a God in reality

P6: Criticism, Hume and his claim that necessary beings do not exist

P7: Response, Malcolm - use logically necessary existence, not factually necessary existence

P8: Counterargument, Malcolm ends up using logically necessary existence anyway

Conclusion: The ontological argument is unconvincing