Ontology Questions Medium
The ontological argument for the existence of God is a philosophical argument that aims to prove the existence of God based on the concept of God as a necessary being. It was first proposed by St. Anselm of Canterbury in the 11th century and has since been refined and debated by various philosophers.
The argument begins with the definition of God as the greatest conceivable being, a being that possesses all perfections. St. Anselm argues that if we can conceive of such a being, then it must exist in reality, as existence is a necessary perfection. In other words, it is greater to exist in reality than to exist only in the mind.
The key premise of the ontological argument is that existence is a necessary attribute of God. St. Anselm argues that if God exists only in the mind but not in reality, then we can conceive of a greater being - one that exists both in the mind and in reality. However, since God is defined as the greatest conceivable being, this would be a contradiction. Therefore, God must exist in reality.
One of the most famous formulations of the ontological argument was presented by philosopher René Descartes. He argued that the idea of God as a perfect being is innate within us, and since perfection includes existence, God must necessarily exist. Descartes claimed that the idea of God is so clear and distinct that it cannot be a product of our own minds, but rather must be caused by a perfect being.
Critics of the ontological argument raise several objections. One common objection is that existence is not a property that can be attributed to something by mere definition. They argue that existence is a contingent fact about the world and cannot be deduced solely from conceptual analysis. Additionally, some philosophers argue that the ontological argument relies on a flawed understanding of the concept of God, assuming that existence is a necessary attribute of a perfect being.
Overall, the ontological argument is a complex and controversial argument for the existence of God. While it has been influential in the history of philosophy, it continues to be debated and criticized by philosophers with differing perspectives.