Advantages Of The Ontological Argument - 1261 Words

The Ontological Argument attempts provide absolute proof that God exists so that His existence cannot be questioned otherwise. It is a deductive argument that argues de dicto – the premises involving the definition of God and existence. It is based on a priori knowledge that comes to an analytic statement that is necessarily valid. If the premises of the argument are true, then the conclusion is self-evident and and the argument provides absolute proof for the existence of God. This is in direct contrast with other arguments for the existence of God such as the Design Argument which is an inductive argument that deals in probability rather than proof and so one can always question the conclusion. It is based on a posteriori knowledge that†¦show more content†¦God is necessary, he has no cause and has always existed and always will, while something such as an island is contingent and so it has a cause and will eventually no longer exist. Islands are temporal contingent which have different versions of perfection for each person. Furthermore, an island is finite and so cannot have limitless greatness while God can because he is infinite. In order to criticise the Ontological Argument, one must attack its premises. St Thomas Aquinas believed that arguments for God has to be a posteriori in nature. He argued that no-one can fully understand and encapsulate the nature of God, let alone define what he is. Furthermore, there is no evidence to prove that the definition of God that Anselm posited is correct, a view that 18th Century philosopher Immanuel Kant took as well. God’s existence is only known by Himself alone. Anselm seemed to assume that everyone thought of God the same way as he did and yet they may be many different definitions of God in other people’s minds. Kant criticised many different areas of the Ontological Argument. He argued that, while if one was to believe in God they would have to believe that he was that than which no greater can be conceived, it is not a contradiction, as Anselm claimed, to reject both God and the idea that He is the greatest possible being altogether.Show MoreRelatedThe Ontological Argument For The Existence Of God1509 Words   |  7 Pages Descartes’ ontological argument is an echo of the original ontological argument for the existence of God as proposed by St. Anselm in the 11th century. To illustrate the background of the ontological argument, Anselm’s argument works within a distinct framework of ontology that posits the existence of God as necessity by virtue of its definition. In other words, for the mind to conceive of an infinite, perfect God, ultimately implies that there must indeed be a perfect God that embodies existenceRead MoreUnderstanding Quine s Theory And Ontological Commitm ent1365 Words   |  6 PagesAre there holes? 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