Ontological Argument Philosopher's

Ontological Argument Philosopher's

1. Why are GE Moore and Russell against the Ontological Argument?

   • Kant and Russell
     • You have to have proof that something exists before you add exist as a quality/predicate of them.
     • Kant
       • Kant thinks existence is not a predicate
         • Predicate= Quality/Charactistic
       • We have to know what something is to understand it.
       • Existing does not help us understand something.
       • To understand something it *has* to exist so we can know it.
       • A Characteristic has to tell you something about the 'thing', you can't have something without proof.
       • Against the Ontological Argument
   • Moore
     • A Some tame tigers do not growl
     • B Some tame tigers do not exist
     • A is meaningful saying that 'tame tigers' do not growl
       • a characteristic
     • B does not make any sense
       • How do you know what a 'tame tiger' is if it does not exist?
       • You do not learn anything about anything in this sentence/statement.
       • You do not learn anything about Tigers/God by saying if they do/do not exist.
   • Russell
     • Saying 'Cows are brown' is the same as saying 'Cows are brown and exist'.
       • This is because you wouldn't know what it looked like if they didn't exist.
       • Cows= Real things
     • Therefore you do not prove anything about God by just saying 'he exists'.
       • There is no proof
         • You have to have proof before you say its true. You have to to have proof before you say Gods exists.

2. Infavour of the Ontological Argument

   • Alvin Plantinga
     • There are an infinite number of universes in which God must exist because he is greater than everything.
       • If he didn't exist in all universes he wouldn't be perfect.
   • Based on Anselm's statement
     • "God is greater than can be conceived"
   • Gaunilo
     • "If God exists he must be perfect"
     • Perfect Island
       • Image your perfect Island (in your mind)
         • For it to be perfect it must exist
           • Counter
             • Not true, because if you can image it, it doesn't mean it exists
     • Necessary being- God is a necessary being and therefore must exist