ontology

• Who created the Ontological Argument in 1077 AD?

  St Anselm
• What does ontology refer to?

  Being or existing
• Why has the Ontological Argument been controversial?

  Critics are often religious but doubtful
• Who stated that it is easier to feel convinced the Ontological Argument is fallacious?

  Bertrand Russell
• Why are Ontological arguments considered a priori?

  They analyze the concept of God
• What is a strength of a priori arguments for God?

  Not undermined by new scientific evidence
• What type of reasoning do Ontological arguments use?

  Deductive reasoning
• What does the strength of deductive arguments rely on?

  Validity and soundness of premises
• What is the first premise of St Anselm's Ontological Argument?

  God is the greatest conceivable being
• What is the second premise of St Anselm's Ontological Argument?

  It is greater to exist in reality
• What is the conclusion of St Anselm's Ontological Argument?

  Therefore, God exists in reality
• How does Anselm illustrate the distinction between existence in the mind and reality?

  Through the example of a painter
• What does Anselm reference to support his argument?

  Psalm 14:1
• What does Anselm argue about the idea of God?

  It cannot exist in the mind alone
• What is the implication of denying God's existence according to Anselm?

  It contradicts the concept of the greatest being
• What does Anselm mean by "that than which nothing greater can be conceived"?

  It cannot exist only in understanding
• What does Anselm conclude about a necessary being?

  It cannot not exist
• How does Malcolm interpret Anselm's term 'greater'?

  Referring to dependence for existence
• What does Hartshorne call Anselm's insight?

  Anselm's discovery
• What does Anselm argue about our understanding of God?

  We can understand God as the greatest being
• What is Gaunilo's objection to Anselm's argument?

  God cannot be in our understanding
• What does Aquinas argue about God's nature?

  It is beyond our understanding
• What does Gaunilo doubt about the greatest conceivable being?

  That we can understand this idea
• What does Peter van Inwagen argue about understanding God?

  We understand God partially, not fully
• What does Apophatic theology suggest about reasoning about God?

  It is impossible due to God's unknowability
• What does Pseudo-Dionysius say about God?

  God is beyond assertion and denial
• What is Gaunilo's 'lost island' response?

  It critiques the validity of Anselm's argument
• What does Gaunilo argue about the perfect lost island?

  Its existence is uncertain and doubtful
• How does Anselm respond to Gaunilo's critique?

  His argument proves only God's existence
• What does Anselm argue about contingent beings?

  They depend on something else for existence
• What is unique about God's existence according to Anselm?

  It does not apply to ordinary understanding
• What does Descartes aim to do with the Ontological Argument?

  Strengthen it through rationalist epistemology
• What does Descartes argue about intuition?

  It provides direct intellectual awareness
• What is Descartes' deductive argument structure?

  P1: Idea of a supremely perfect being
• What does Hume reject regarding the Ontological Argument?

  A priori demonstrations of existence
• What is Hume's fork?

  Distinction between analytic and synthetic truths
• What does Hume claim about necessary existence?

  It has no coherent meaning
• What does Kant argue about existence?

  It is not a property of a thing
• What does Descartes imply about God's perfection?

  It includes existence as a property
• What does it mean for something to be logically necessary?

  It cannot be imagined as false.