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Ontological Argument A Level Edexcel
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Questions in this quiz (19)
1Who created the Ontological Argument?
- AAquinas
- BHume
- CPseudo-Dionysus
- DAnselm
- EPlantinga
2What is the nature of the Ontological Argument?
- Aa posteriori
- Ba priori
- Cinductive
- Ddeductive
- Ebased on experience
- Fbased on logical reasoning
3Anselm's definition of God is "that than which no greater can be conceived" (TTWNGCBC)
- ATrue
- BFalse
4Why is Anselm's definition of God (TTWNGCBC) an important feature of the Ontological Argument?
- AIt is the foundation for Anselm's argument
- BIt supports Anselm's Proslogian 2 and 3
5What does TTWNGCBC tell us about God?
- AGod is supremely perfect
- BGod has greater "ontos"
- CGod is invisible
- DGod has magical powers
6Explain Proslogian 2.
- AProslogian 2 supports the existence of God by arguing that if something could exist in the mind or in the mind and reality, then it would be greater in the mind (in intellectu) and in reality (in re). The Painter Analogy is used to demonstrate this since no matter how great a painting is in the Painter's mind, the painting on the canvas, in reality, will always be greater. This can be applied to God. If God is TTWNGCBC, then by definition God must exist in the mind and in reality, since that is the greatest option and God has the greatest "ontos" (being). Therefore, God exists.
- BProslogian 2 supports the existence of God by arguing that if something could exist in the mind (in intellectu) or in reality, then it would be greater in reality (in re). The Painter Analogy is used to demonstrate this since no matter how great a painting is in the Painter's mind, the painting on the canvas, in reality, will always be greater. This can be applied to God. If God is TTWNGCBC, then by definition God must exist in reality, since that is the greatest option and God has the greatest "ontos" (being). Therefore, God exists.
- CProslogian 2 supports the existence of God by arguing that if something could be necessary (independent) or contingent (dependent), then it would be greater to be necessary. Since God, by definition is supremely perfect, he must be necessary since this is the greatest option. Therefore, God exists.
7Explain Proslogian 3.
- AProslogian 3 argues that if something could be contingent (dependent) or necessary (independent), then it would be greater to be necessary. Since God, by definition, is greater than anything that can be conceived, he must be necessary. Therefore, God must have necessary existence.
- BProslogian 3 argues that if something could exist in reality or in the mind, then it would be greater in reality. Since God is TTWNGCBC, he must exist in reality. Therefore, God must exist.
- CProslogian 3 argues that if something could be contingent (dependent) or necessary (independent), then it would be greater to be contingent. Since God, by definition, is supremely perfect, he must be contingent since that is the greater option. Therefore, God must have contingent existence.
8Anselm's conclusion is "reductio ad absurdum" (reduce to absurdity), showing that to reject God's existence is illogical.
- ATrue
- BFalse
9What does Psalm 14:1 say?
- A"The fool has said in his heart 'There is no God'"
- B"The fool has said in his heart 'There is a God'"
- C"The fool has said 'There is no God'"
- D"The fool in his heart has said 'There is a God'"
- E"The fool in his heart has said 'There is no God'"
10Aquinas developed Anselm's Ontological Argument.
- ATrue
- BFalse
11Explain Descartes' development.
- ADescartes adds necessary existence to the list of God's perfections. Necessary existence is a predicate.
- BDescartes adds contingent existence to the list of God's perfections. Contingent existence is a predicate.
- CTo define a perfect being without existence would mean that it wasn't perfect. Since God has all perfections, he must also exist.
- DIf there were an infinite number of possible worlds, God would have to exist in one. Since God is supremely perfect, by definition, if he exists in one, he would exist in all possible worlds. Therefore, God must exist.
- ETriangle analogy: Just as three sides are the predicates of a triangle, so existence is a predicate of God's definition as a perfect being.
- FPainter analogy: A painting on the canvas, in reality, will always be greater than a painting in the mind. Similarly, by definition, God must exist in reality and the mind, since he is supremely perfect.
12Explain Malcolm's development.
- ASupports Descartes' development.
- BDoesn't support Descartes' development.
- CIt would be meaningless for a supremely perfect being not to exist. Since God has all perfections, he must exist. It would be logically contradictory otherwise.
- DGod has all perfections and therefore, must have contingent existence. It would be logically contradictory for God not to have contingent existence.
- EIf God could exist, he would exist by definition.
- FIf God could exist, he wouldn't exist by definition.
13Tick the two criticisms put forward by Kant.
- AThe Ontological Argument commits a syllogism.
- BThe Ontological Argument confuses an 'existence is' with a 'defining is'. This is logically invalid
- CWe don't have to accept the definition.
- DExistence is not a predicate.
- EExistence is a predicate.
14Russel criticises the Ontological Argument for making existence into an intention (a concept put forward by a set of predicates) when it should be an extension (an optional defining characteristic).
- ATrue
- BFalse
15The Ontological Argument doesn't commit a syllogism (logically correct but factually wrong), according to Russell
- ATrue
- BFalse
16An example of a syllogism is: all men exist, Santa is a man, therefore Santa exists.
- ATrue
- BFalse
17Explain Davies' criticism.
- AThe Ontological Argument confuses an 'existence is' for a 'defining is'. This is logically invalid.
- BThe Ontological Argument commits a syllogism.
- CThe Ontological Argument is undermined if we don't accept the definition.
18Explain Plantinga's development.
- AUses theoretical physics to suggest that if there are an infinite number of worlds, than God must exist in one.
- BDoesn't use theoretical physics, uses quantum physics.
- CIf God exists in one world, by definition, he must exist in all worlds because he is supremely perfect.
- DGod is a being of "maximal greatness" and therefore, must exist in all worlds
- EGod must have contingent existence because he is a being of "maximal greatness"
19Tick three strengths of the Ontological Argument.
- AThe Ontological Argument is inductive and a posteriori, meaning we can use experience to show that God exists.
- BThe Ontological Argument is deductive and a priori, meaning that we don't rely on experience to show that God exists.
- CWittgenstein's Language Games: The Ontological Argument makes sense within the religious language field. It cannot be criticised using scientific language, like Kant, Russell and Davies.
- DThe Ontological Argument was written as a prayer. Anselm was not trying to persuade non-believers of God's existence. Rather he gave theists a basis for their faith in God's existence.
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- Revision Quiz on the topic Ontological Argument from Unit 3 Philosophy in A2 Religious Studies Edexcel.
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- fstok
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