THEME 2A- DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS (ORIGINS OF ONTOLOGICAL)

• deductive proof


  an argument in which if the premises are true then the conclusion must be true
• a priori


  without or prior to experience or evidence
• what are deductive proofs often composed of

  premises or statements that when stacked together point towards a conclusion
• what’s the ontological argument 


  argument for the existence of god based on the concept of the nature of being eg his perfect / necessary existence
• who coined the concept of god as the greatest possible being 


  st anselm
• st anselm context (3 points)

  became the archbishop of canterbury. 1033-1109. his magnum opus was the proslogion translating to ’faith seeking understanding’
• what was more important to anselm, faith or reason

  faith. god was the source of all being and the ultimate good
• what quote does st anselm reference when referring to those who don’t believe

  psalm 14:1. “the fool has said in his heart ‘there is no god’”
• what abbreviation do you refer to when referencing anselm

  TTWNGCBC (that than which nothing greater can be conceived)
• what does anselm state in chapter 3 of his proslogion

  “god cannot be conceived to exist”
• what does anselm believe god has to have due to him being TTWNGCBC

  necessary existence
• what does anselm mean by the term necessary existence

  god has to have necessary existence or else he would be contingent. if he was truly a god TTWNGCBC, he has to be necessary not contingent or else he’d rely on something else and not truly be god
• the extent to which a priori arguments for gods existence are persuasive 


  aposteriori arguments are based on evidence (more persuasive and sensible for the 21st century). arguments when referring to cosmological like anselm’s depends on your faith and how strong it is. apriori arguments tend to lead to truthful conclusions (persuasive). both a priori and a posteriori are persuasive, down to your faith and view
• the extent to which religious views on the nature of god impact on arguments for the existence of god

  gods omnipotence are key features of both the cosmological and teleological arguments, it’s vital for him to be omnipotent in order to be the true creator. some theists may say gods benevolence are questioned, especially when referring to the problem of evil. anselms argument is invalid without clear understanding of nature of god, it’s impossible to construct an argument without knowledge on his nature. (conc) depends on faith and how liberal
• anselms conclusion

  if you believe something exists stronger in reality than in the mind then you have to believe in god
• what neo-atheist does anselms conclusion link to?

  johnathon miller. refuses to acknowledge the term god as he believes religion is profoundly posterous