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The Ontological Argument

The Ontological Argument. The existence of God is logically the only possible explanation. Anselm (1033 –1109). Anselm. Anselm of Canterbury was a Benedictine Monk, Philosopher and Archbishop of Canterbury. He devised the ontological argument for the existence of God.

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The Ontological Argument

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  1. The Ontological Argument The existence of God is logically the only possible explanation

  2. Anselm (1033 –1109)

  3. Anselm • Anselm of Canterbury was a Benedictine Monk, Philosopher and Archbishop of Canterbury. • He devised the ontological argument for the existence of God. • Ontology is to do with the nature of being. • The argument works from describing the characteristics of God and concludes God must therefore exist.

  4. The argument • (1) God is that than which no greater can be conceived.
(2) If God is that than which no greater can be conceived then there is nothing greater than God that can be imagined.
Therefore:
(3) There is nothing greater than God that can be imagined.
(4) If God does not exist then there is something greater than God that can be imagined.
Therefore:
(5) God exists.

  5. Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

  6. The argument • I have an idea of supremely perfect being, i.e. a being having all perfections. • Necessary existence is a perfection. • Therefore, a supremely perfect being exists.

  7. Criticism – Gaunilo (contemporary of Anselm) • Perfect Island – defining something into existence. • I conceive an island than nothing greater can be conceived…etc. • We cannot fully conceive God and therefore the ontological argument cannot work.

  8. Aquinas • We cannot fully comprehend God. Only if one could fully understand the nature of God could this argument work.

  9. Hume • Existence is not a quality or a perfection. • I can conceive something perfect as existing. I can also conceive something perfect as not existing. Only if the opposite was impossible could it be true.

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