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The Ontological Argument

The Ontological Argument. Define the terms: Ontology, Analytic, Synthetic, God. Recall Psalm 14:1. Define God in Anselm’s terms. Summarise Anselm’s Ontological Argument. Evaluate the Ontological Argument. Design your dream girl/boy. What are their characteristics?. What are their features?

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The Ontological Argument

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  1. The Ontological Argument Define the terms: Ontology, Analytic, Synthetic, God. Recall Psalm 14:1. Define God in Anselm’s terms. Summarise Anselm’s Ontological Argument. Evaluate the Ontological Argument.

  2. Design your dream girl/boy What are their characteristics? What are their features? (be sensible) What would make that dream person perfect?

  3. Existence: does it make things greater? Cypher: All I do is what he tells me to do. If I had to choose between that and the Matrix, I choose the Matrix. Trinity: But the Matrix isn't real. Cypher: I disagree, Trinity. I think that the Matrix can be more real than this world. All I do is pull a plug here, but there... you have to watch Apoc die.

  4. In what way do these exist? • Animals • Prime numbers • Red, Blue, Green • Jealousy, Anger, Love 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19…

  5. Ontology • Ontology is the study of existence. • The Ontological Argument is a priori, it comes before evidence and relies on reason, e.g. Plato’s Forms.

  6. Types of Existence • Paul Tillich argued that God does not exist in the same contingent way that all matter in the universe does; God is necessary. • Define Contingent and Necessary. How is this Pencil Contingent?

  7. Analytic Propositions • Analytic propositions are statements that are true by definition, e.g. tautologies: • Bachelors are unmarried men. • For Anselm, the concept of God included necessity and existence, so it made no sense to say “God does not exist”.

  8. Synthetic Propositions • Synthetic propositions are statements that add something to our knowledge. • The shop down the street sells newspapers. • Synthetic propositions are based on experience; as such it is difficult to produce a synthetic argument for the existence of God.

  9. St Anselm [AD 1033 – 1109] • St Anselm was a Benedictine Monk and he became the Archbishop of Canterbury. • His philosophy was Faith, Seeking, Understanding. Only through faith could we start to understand.

  10. Anselm’s Philosophy • Anselm’s Philosophy was: ‘Faith, Seeking Understanding’ • He quoted from Psalm 14:1: • The fool says in his heart, “there is no God”.

  11. Anselm’s Proslogion • Definition of God: • God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived. • AND • That which exists in reality is greater than that which exists in the mind. Remember this 

  12. The Argument P1. God is TTWNGCBC P2. A being which exists in reality is greater than a being which exists only in the intellect. C1. Therefore, the concept of God is surpassed by an existent God. C2. So God Must Exist.

  13. Anselm’s second version P1. God is TTWNGCBC P2. God must be necessary. C. God must exist – necessarily. NB. This relies on the acceptance that necessity is a quality

  14. Contingency and Necessity Do you have a contingency plan? • Contingent means it relies on other things to exist. • Necessity means it relies on nothing in order to exist.

  15. A Deductive Argument for God • By accepting the concept of God, you necessarily accept the necessary existence of God.

  16. The Fool • How then can a man, who knows the concept of God, ever say in his heart “There is no God”? • Discuss and compose a response.

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