PHI-210 Exam 2 Questions with Correct
Answers
st. anslem
who first formulated the ontological argument in his proslogion?
onto
greek for "being/existence"
a priori
what type of premise does the ontological argument come from?
reductio ad absurdum
an argument that in its first premise, assumes as true the very thing the argument wishes to
disprove,. then it moves to show HOW, by assuming the first premise, the argument ends up
in contradiction. showing then, that the first premise is false. it reduces the position it aims to
attack to absurdity.
a priori premise
proving that God exists "from the armchair"
modal argument
argues from modal distinctions. the nature of possibility and necessity. the idea is to show
that a necessarily existing being is possible and if possible, necessarily actual
anslem's ontological argument
1. God exists only as a concept in the mind
2. God is a being greater than which none can be conceived
, 3. a being that exists in the mind and in reality is greater than a being that exists only in the
mind
4. a being greater than a being greater, than which none can be conceived
5. Contradiction!
6. our reductio assumption is false (first premise)
7. therefore, God exists in the mind and in reality
Guanlo
who provides a reply to anslem's ontological argument?
guanlo's reply
we can run the same argument to prove the necessary existence of the greatest conceivable
island
1. the island of the blest exists only as a concept in the mind (reductio)
2. the island of the blest is an island greater than which none can be conceived
3. an island that exists in the mind and in reality is greater than an island that exists only in
the mind
4. so, we can conceive of an island greater than an island greater than which none can be
coneived
5. contradiction!
6. our reductio assumption is false
7. therefore, the island of the blest exists in the mind and in reality
premise one and two seem false
what is the problem with Guanlo's reply to anslem's ontological argment?
Plantinga's modal ontological argument
Answers
st. anslem
who first formulated the ontological argument in his proslogion?
onto
greek for "being/existence"
a priori
what type of premise does the ontological argument come from?
reductio ad absurdum
an argument that in its first premise, assumes as true the very thing the argument wishes to
disprove,. then it moves to show HOW, by assuming the first premise, the argument ends up
in contradiction. showing then, that the first premise is false. it reduces the position it aims to
attack to absurdity.
a priori premise
proving that God exists "from the armchair"
modal argument
argues from modal distinctions. the nature of possibility and necessity. the idea is to show
that a necessarily existing being is possible and if possible, necessarily actual
anslem's ontological argument
1. God exists only as a concept in the mind
2. God is a being greater than which none can be conceived
, 3. a being that exists in the mind and in reality is greater than a being that exists only in the
mind
4. a being greater than a being greater, than which none can be conceived
5. Contradiction!
6. our reductio assumption is false (first premise)
7. therefore, God exists in the mind and in reality
Guanlo
who provides a reply to anslem's ontological argument?
guanlo's reply
we can run the same argument to prove the necessary existence of the greatest conceivable
island
1. the island of the blest exists only as a concept in the mind (reductio)
2. the island of the blest is an island greater than which none can be conceived
3. an island that exists in the mind and in reality is greater than an island that exists only in
the mind
4. so, we can conceive of an island greater than an island greater than which none can be
coneived
5. contradiction!
6. our reductio assumption is false
7. therefore, the island of the blest exists in the mind and in reality
premise one and two seem false
what is the problem with Guanlo's reply to anslem's ontological argment?
Plantinga's modal ontological argument
