The Ontological Argument
The existence of God is regarded as a characteristic of God
The argument is a priori argument- An a priori argument is one where certain
basic principles are assumed to be true
This can be associated with Anslem. 1033-1109
One cannot think of God as not existing since existence is essential to the very
idea of God.
“We believe that God is a being than which nothing greater can be thought. “a
being than which none greater can be thought” exists in the mind. But clearly,
“that than which a greater cannot be thought” cannot exist in the mind alone.
“that than which a greater cannot be thought” would be that than which a
greater can be thought! Since this is impossible, there obviously exists both in the
mind and in reality, something than which a greater cannot be thought. ”
Summary
The word, “God” refers to a perfect being- if this did not exist, it would not
be perfect
Rene Decartes (1596-1650)- just as a triangle would not be a triangle
unless its angles added up to 180°, so God would not be God if he did not
exist
Leibniz (1646-1716) and Hegel (1770-1831) supported this argument
Tillich spoke of God as the “Ultimate Reality” but not whether he exists
Criticisms
Gaunilo: The jump from existence in the mind and existence in reality is too
great e.g., like the perfect holiday island
Kant (1724-1804): argued that the world “exists” may not be used as a simple
quality of God. The word God may include goodness, almightiness, wisdom
but not existence. This needs to be proved.
We need reasons for believing in the existence of God and not simply a
definition of what God might be if he existed.
Modern Forms of the Ontological Argument
,Norman Malcolm:
His argument runs as follows:
1. If God exists, his existence is necessary
2. If God does not exist, his existence is impossible
3. His existence is either necessary or impossible
4. His existence is not impossible
5. Therefore, God necessarily exists
Plantinga’s Ontological Argument:
His argument implements the notion of possible worlds. This is the test for
logical impossibility we can think of a possible world in which the statement is
true. For a statement to be logically necessary it would have to be true in all
possible worlds.
Summary:
1. There is a possible world, in which there exists a being with maximal greatness
and excellence
2. Therefore, in any possible world this being has maximal excellence.
3. Our world is a possible world (since our world exists)
4. Therefore, in our world there is the being.
A formal analysis:
1) If God exists, then he has necessary existence
2) Either God has necessary existence, or he doesn’t
3) If God doesn’t have necessary existence, then he doesn’t
Therefore:
4) Either God has necessary existence, or he doesn’t
5) If God necessarily doesn’t have necessary existence, then God doesn’t exist
Therefore:
6) Either God has necessary existence, or he doesn’t exist
7) It is not the case that God necessarily doesn’t exist
Therefore:
8) God has necessary existence
9) If God has necessary existence, then God exists
Therefore:
10) God
exists
Problems with Plantinga’s argument
, 1) We can question the whole notion of possible worlds. Does this notion have
any bearing on actuality
2) Without proof we need not accept the possibility of something having the
property of maximal greatness
3) Even if we agree that this is a possible world, does it follow that there is
actually such a being
4) We could question the possibility of something having this property in every
possible world
5) The possibility of maximal excellence doesn’t entail actually so.
6) It may be said that Plantinga’s argument merely shows that God is possible,
not that he is actual
A Priori Argument
Based on the premise of existence
If God is God, then He exists- therefore God must exist
God is defined: a Necessary being and a Perfect being
The argument is based on “de dicto”- the very idea of God means that He
exists
A Conceptual Argument
God is described as the: perfect, necessary being
In order to be a perfect and necessary being- he must exist
The non-existence of a perfect and necessary being is illogical
If God is God- then He exists
“Ontos”
The word “ontos” means: being and nature
The argument rests on what is defined as the being and nature of God
God’s character/ characteristics are central to the argument
One of God’s necessary characteristics is existence
Therefore- God necessarily exists
Anslem’s Argument
1. God is the greatest ever possible being
2. If God exists in the mind alone, a greater being could be imagined to exist
both in the mind and in reality
3. This being would then be greater than God
4. God cannot exist only as an idea on the mind
Logical Contradiction
The existence of God is regarded as a characteristic of God
The argument is a priori argument- An a priori argument is one where certain
basic principles are assumed to be true
This can be associated with Anslem. 1033-1109
One cannot think of God as not existing since existence is essential to the very
idea of God.
“We believe that God is a being than which nothing greater can be thought. “a
being than which none greater can be thought” exists in the mind. But clearly,
“that than which a greater cannot be thought” cannot exist in the mind alone.
“that than which a greater cannot be thought” would be that than which a
greater can be thought! Since this is impossible, there obviously exists both in the
mind and in reality, something than which a greater cannot be thought. ”
Summary
The word, “God” refers to a perfect being- if this did not exist, it would not
be perfect
Rene Decartes (1596-1650)- just as a triangle would not be a triangle
unless its angles added up to 180°, so God would not be God if he did not
exist
Leibniz (1646-1716) and Hegel (1770-1831) supported this argument
Tillich spoke of God as the “Ultimate Reality” but not whether he exists
Criticisms
Gaunilo: The jump from existence in the mind and existence in reality is too
great e.g., like the perfect holiday island
Kant (1724-1804): argued that the world “exists” may not be used as a simple
quality of God. The word God may include goodness, almightiness, wisdom
but not existence. This needs to be proved.
We need reasons for believing in the existence of God and not simply a
definition of what God might be if he existed.
Modern Forms of the Ontological Argument
,Norman Malcolm:
His argument runs as follows:
1. If God exists, his existence is necessary
2. If God does not exist, his existence is impossible
3. His existence is either necessary or impossible
4. His existence is not impossible
5. Therefore, God necessarily exists
Plantinga’s Ontological Argument:
His argument implements the notion of possible worlds. This is the test for
logical impossibility we can think of a possible world in which the statement is
true. For a statement to be logically necessary it would have to be true in all
possible worlds.
Summary:
1. There is a possible world, in which there exists a being with maximal greatness
and excellence
2. Therefore, in any possible world this being has maximal excellence.
3. Our world is a possible world (since our world exists)
4. Therefore, in our world there is the being.
A formal analysis:
1) If God exists, then he has necessary existence
2) Either God has necessary existence, or he doesn’t
3) If God doesn’t have necessary existence, then he doesn’t
Therefore:
4) Either God has necessary existence, or he doesn’t
5) If God necessarily doesn’t have necessary existence, then God doesn’t exist
Therefore:
6) Either God has necessary existence, or he doesn’t exist
7) It is not the case that God necessarily doesn’t exist
Therefore:
8) God has necessary existence
9) If God has necessary existence, then God exists
Therefore:
10) God
exists
Problems with Plantinga’s argument
, 1) We can question the whole notion of possible worlds. Does this notion have
any bearing on actuality
2) Without proof we need not accept the possibility of something having the
property of maximal greatness
3) Even if we agree that this is a possible world, does it follow that there is
actually such a being
4) We could question the possibility of something having this property in every
possible world
5) The possibility of maximal excellence doesn’t entail actually so.
6) It may be said that Plantinga’s argument merely shows that God is possible,
not that he is actual
A Priori Argument
Based on the premise of existence
If God is God, then He exists- therefore God must exist
God is defined: a Necessary being and a Perfect being
The argument is based on “de dicto”- the very idea of God means that He
exists
A Conceptual Argument
God is described as the: perfect, necessary being
In order to be a perfect and necessary being- he must exist
The non-existence of a perfect and necessary being is illogical
If God is God- then He exists
“Ontos”
The word “ontos” means: being and nature
The argument rests on what is defined as the being and nature of God
God’s character/ characteristics are central to the argument
One of God’s necessary characteristics is existence
Therefore- God necessarily exists
Anslem’s Argument
1. God is the greatest ever possible being
2. If God exists in the mind alone, a greater being could be imagined to exist
both in the mind and in reality
3. This being would then be greater than God
4. God cannot exist only as an idea on the mind
Logical Contradiction
