Explore tens of thousands of sets crafted by our community.
Anselm's Ontological Argument
8
Flashcards
0/8
Use of Reductio ad Absurdum
Anselm uses the reductio ad absurdum technique, arguing that if God did not exist, then a greater being could be conceived, which is absurd.
Anselm's Response to Gaunilo
Anselm counters Gaunilo's critique by arguing that his ontological argument only applies to necessary beings, and not to contingent ones like a hypothetical island.
The Definition of God
Anselm starts with the definition 'God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived,' using it as a foundational premise of his argument.
Kant's Critique on Existence as a Predicate
Immanuel Kant critiques Anselm by asserting that existence is not a real predicate that can add to the concept of a being.
Necessity of Existence
Anselm declares that God must exist necessarily rather than contingently due to being the greatest conceivable being.
The Question of Understanding
Anselm's argument assumes that everyone can conceive of 'that than which nothing greater can be conceived,' but this can be challenged on the basis of understanding and cultural relativism.
Existence in Reality vs. the Mind
Anselm compares the existence of God in the mind to the existence in reality, stating that existing in reality as well as in the mind is greater.
Gaunilo's Perfect Island Critique
Gaunilo counters Anselm with a reductio ad absurdum argument suggesting that the logic used by Anselm could be applied to prove the existence of a perfect island, which seems absurd.
© Hypatia.Tech. 2024 All rights reserved.
