Summary A level Religious Studies Edexcel: Ontological Argument
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Course
Unit 1 - Philosophical issues and questions
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
These notes helped me to achieve an A* and summarise the following:
- basics of the argument
- structure of the argument
- other versions of the argument
- criticisms
Ontological Argument
Essay link for : Christianity, Nature of God- God wants to reveal
himself to humanity so he can have a personal relationship with us
What does the argument claim?
Once you have defined God, no doubt remains about his existence. This is known
as aseity, that God contains within himself the means of his existence and so his
existence is necessary.
How can the argument be described?
A priori- known before experience and based on reason
Deductive- if the premises are true, then the conclusion must also be true
Analytic- true by definition e.g. A triangle has three sides
What does the argument suggest overall?
If we can define God using attributes such as omnipotent and transcendent, then it
logically proves his existence. These attributes make him perfect, therefore he must
exist.
What is Anselm’s first proof?
God is defined as ‘that than which nothing greater can be conceived’
Both believers and non-believers can accept this definition
This idea exists in our mind, but surely it is far greater to exist in the mind and reality
than the mind alone
God therefore must exist in reality if he is to be considered the ‘greatest’
Therefore God exists
What analogy does Anselm use to demonstrate his argument?
A painter can think of an idea, however it does not exist until it has been painted on
a canvas.
Who criticised Anselm and how?
Ontological Argument 1
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