The Ontological argument

• Who created the Ontological Argument?

  St Anselm
• What does ontology refer to?

  Being or existing
• Why is the Ontological Argument controversial?

  Critics are often religious but doubtful
• What motivates philosophers to engage with the Ontological Argument?

  To support or undermine its validity
• Why are ontological arguments considered a priori?

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

  They aren't undermined by 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 Anselm's Ontological Argument?

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

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

  God exists in the mind
• What conclusion does Anselm draw from his premises?

  Therefore, God exists in reality
• How does Anselm illustrate his argument?


  With a painter's idea before painting
• What does Anselm reference to support his argument?

  Psalm 14:1
• What does an atheist imply by denying God's existence?

  They have an idea of God in mind
• Why is it incoherent to say God exists only in the mind?

  It allows for conceiving something greater
• What does Anselm argue about the greatest being?

  It cannot exist only in understanding
• What does Anselm conclude about a being greater than God?

  It is impossible to conceive
• What does Anselm claim about necessary existence?

  God is a necessary being
• 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 God's non-existence?

  It is impossible for God
• What analogy does Anselm use to explain understanding God?

  Seeing daylight without looking at the sun
• What is Gaunilo's objection to Anselm's argument?

  God cannot be in understanding
• What does Aquinas argue against Anselm?

  God's nature 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?

  Limited understanding is sufficient
• What traits does God possess according to Anselm?

  Omnipotence, omniscience, etc.
• What does Gaunilo's 'lost island' response illustrate?

  Absurdity of Anselm's logic
• What does Gaunilo argue about unreal objects?

  They exist in understanding but not reality
• What does Anselm argue about the perfect island?

  It cannot prove existence a priori
• Why does Anselm argue the island is contingent?

  It depends on something else for existence
• What does Anselm say about God's existence?

  It is unique and not ordinary
• What does Anselm argue about existence and definition?

  Existence is not a matter of definition
• What does Anselm's defense highlight about God's existence?

  It is unique compared to other beings
• What is the nature of the greatest possible island according to the text?

  It is contingent and could either exist or not.
• Why can't a priori analysis prove the existence of contingent beings?

  Because their existence depends on something else.
• What distinguishes a necessary being from contingent beings?

  A necessary being does not depend on anything else.
• How does Anselm's argument differ when applied to God versus the island?

  The logic for the island does not apply to God.
• What are the main points of Anselm's defense of the ontological argument?

  • Highlights uniqueness of God's existence
  • Ordinary understanding of existence does not apply
  • Successfully refutes the perfect island analogy