The ontological argument is a philosophical argument that attempts to prove the existence of God based on reason and logic alone, without relying on empirical evidence or observation. It focuses on the concept or definition of God rather than the physical world.
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The ontological argument aims to prove the existence of God a priori, meaning from reason and logic alone, without relying on empirical evidence.
Anselm of Canterbury's version of the ontological argument states that God is the greatest possible being, and that a being that exists in reality is greater than one that exists only in the mind.
The ontological argument hinges on the concept of necessary existence, which means that God's existence is logically necessary and cannot be otherwise.
Opponents of the ontological argument argue that existence is not a predicate and that it is not possible to logically deduce the existence of God from the concept of God alone.
Modern philosophers have proposed various reformulations and critiques of the ontological argument, but it remains a subject of ongoing debate and discussion in the philosophy of religion.
Review Questions
Explain the key premise of the ontological argument and how it aims to prove the existence of God.
The ontological argument's key premise is that God is the greatest possible being, and that a being that exists in reality is greater than one that exists only in the mind. Therefore, if we can conceive of God as the greatest possible being, then God must exist in reality, as it would be greater for God to exist than to not exist. The ontological argument attempts to logically deduce God's existence from the very concept or definition of God, without relying on empirical evidence or observation of the physical world.
Analyze the concept of necessary existence and its role in the ontological argument.
The ontological argument hinges on the idea of necessary existence, which means that God's existence is logically necessary and cannot be otherwise. This is in contrast to contingent existence, where the existence of something is dependent on or caused by something else. The ontological argument states that if we can conceive of God as the greatest possible being, then God's existence must be necessary, as it would be greater for God to exist necessarily than to exist contingently. This logical deduction from the concept of God to the necessity of God's existence is the core of the ontological argument.
Evaluate the key criticisms and challenges that have been raised against the ontological argument.
One of the main criticisms of the ontological argument is that existence is not a predicate, meaning that existence is not a property that can be logically deduced from the concept of a thing. Philosophers have argued that it is not possible to logically infer the actual existence of God from the mere idea or definition of God. Additionally, critics have pointed out that the ontological argument relies on highly abstract and contentious philosophical concepts, such as the notion of the 'greatest possible being,' which is difficult to define and defend. Some philosophers have also proposed alternative formulations and critiques of the ontological argument, highlighting its logical flaws and the challenges in proving the existence of God through reason and logic alone.
Related terms
Anselm of Canterbury: A medieval philosopher and theologian who formulated one of the earliest and most influential versions of the ontological argument.
Necessary Existence: The idea that God's existence is logically necessary, meaning that it is impossible for God not to exist.
Contingent Existence: The idea that the existence of something is dependent on or caused by something else, in contrast to necessary existence.