Ontological Argument

Ontological Argument

1. Ontological = concerned with being or existence

2. Priori argument = made from reasoning, understanding

3. Anselm (1033-1109) Archbishop of Canterbury 1093. Proslogion Chap 2-3

4. Proves God's existence by definition

   • 'God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived'

5. Reductio ad absurdum = makes proof by showing the opposite can't be true

6. Argument 1

   • Athiests can define God even though they don't believe.
   • Something that exists in reality is greater than something that exists in only thought.
   • If nothing is greater than God, He must exist in reality as well as in thought/definition.

7. Argument 2

   • It's impossible to conceive of God not existing. God is a necessary being - he can't not exist.
   • God can't be a contingent (depend on something else for existence) being as then he wouldn't be the greatest.
   • A necessary being is better than a contingent one.
   • God is greater than any conceivable thing, so he must be a necessary being and so must exist.