Ontological Argument A Level Edexcel

Aquinas

Hume

Pseudo-Dionysus

Anselm

Plantinga

a posteriori

a priori

inductive

deductive

based on experience

based on logical reasoning

It is the foundation for Anselm's argument

It supports Anselm's Proslogian 2 and 3

God is supremely perfect

God has greater "ontos"

God is invisible

God has magical powers

Proslogian 2 supports the existence of God by arguing that if something could exist in the mind or in the mind and reality, then it would be greater in the mind (in intellectu) and in reality (in re). The Painter Analogy is used to demonstrate this since no matter how great a painting is in the Painter's mind, the painting on the canvas, in reality, will always be greater. This can be applied to God. If God is TTWNGCBC, then by definition God must exist in the mind and in reality, since that is the greatest option and God has the greatest "ontos" (being). Therefore, God exists.

Proslogian 2 supports the existence of God by arguing that if something could exist in the mind (in intellectu) or in reality, then it would be greater in reality (in re). The Painter Analogy is used to demonstrate this since no matter how great a painting is in the Painter's mind, the painting on the canvas, in reality, will always be greater. This can be applied to God. If God is TTWNGCBC, then by definition God must exist in reality, since that is the greatest option and God has the greatest "ontos" (being). Therefore, God exists.

Proslogian 2 supports the existence of God by arguing that if something could be necessary (independent) or contingent (dependent), then it would be greater to be necessary. Since God, by definition is supremely perfect, he must be necessary since this is the greatest option. Therefore, God exists.

Proslogian 3 argues that if something could be contingent (dependent) or necessary (independent), then it would be greater to be necessary. Since God, by definition, is greater than anything that can be conceived, he must be necessary. Therefore, God must have necessary existence.

Proslogian 3 argues that if something could exist in reality or in the mind, then it would be greater in reality. Since God is TTWNGCBC, he must exist in reality. Therefore, God must exist.

Proslogian 3 argues that if something could be contingent (dependent) or necessary (independent), then it would be greater to be contingent. Since God, by definition, is supremely perfect, he must be contingent since that is the greater option. Therefore, God must have contingent existence.

"The fool has said in his heart 'There is no God'"

"The fool has said in his heart 'There is a God'"

"The fool has said 'There is no God'"

"The fool in his heart has said 'There is a God'"

"The fool in his heart has said 'There is no God'"

Descartes adds necessary existence to the list of God's perfections. Necessary existence is a predicate.

Descartes adds contingent existence to the list of God's perfections. Contingent existence is a predicate.

To define a perfect being without existence would mean that it wasn't perfect. Since God has all perfections, he must also exist.

If there were an infinite number of possible worlds, God would have to exist in one. Since God is supremely perfect, by definition, if he exists in one, he would exist in all possible worlds. Therefore, God must exist.

Triangle analogy: Just as three sides are the predicates of a triangle, so existence is a predicate of God's definition as a perfect being.

Painter analogy: A painting on the canvas, in reality, will always be greater than a painting in the mind. Similarly, by definition, God must exist in reality and the mind, since he is supremely perfect.

Supports Descartes' development.

Doesn't support Descartes' development.

It would be meaningless for a supremely perfect being not to exist. Since God has all perfections, he must exist. It would be logically contradictory otherwise.

God has all perfections and therefore, must have contingent existence. It would be logically contradictory for God not to have contingent existence.

If God could exist, he would exist by definition.

If God could exist, he wouldn't exist by definition.

The Ontological Argument commits a syllogism.

The Ontological Argument confuses an 'existence is' with a 'defining is'. This is logically invalid

We don't have to accept the definition.

Existence is not a predicate.

Existence is a predicate.

The Ontological Argument confuses an 'existence is' for a 'defining is'. This is logically invalid.

The Ontological Argument commits a syllogism.

The Ontological Argument is undermined if we don't accept the definition.

Uses theoretical physics to suggest that if there are an infinite number of worlds, than God must exist in one.

Doesn't use theoretical physics, uses quantum physics.

If God exists in one world, by definition, he must exist in all worlds because he is supremely perfect.

God is a being of "maximal greatness" and therefore, must exist in all worlds

God must have contingent existence because he is a being of "maximal greatness"

The Ontological Argument is inductive and a posteriori, meaning we can use experience to show that God exists.

The Ontological Argument is deductive and a priori, meaning that we don't rely on experience to show that God exists.

Wittgenstein's Language Games: The Ontological Argument makes sense within the religious language field. It cannot be criticised using scientific language, like Kant, Russell and Davies.

The Ontological Argument was written as a prayer. Anselm was not trying to persuade non-believers of God's existence. Rather he gave theists a basis for their faith in God's existence.