Philosophy Existence Of God Questions Long
The ontological argument 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, if God is the greatest conceivable being, then He must exist in reality because existence is a greater perfection than non-existence.
To further explain this argument, let's consider the concept of a perfect island. We can imagine a perfect island that possesses all the qualities we desire, such as beautiful beaches, clear waters, and abundant resources. However, this perfect island only exists in our minds and not in reality. According to the ontological argument, this is because existence is not a necessary perfection for an island. In contrast, God, being the greatest conceivable being, must possess existence as a necessary perfection.
St. Anselm's argument can be summarized in the following logical form:
1. God is defined as the greatest conceivable being.
2. The greatest conceivable being must possess all perfections.
3. Existence is a perfection.
4. Therefore, God must possess existence.
5. If God exists in the mind but not in reality, then a greater being can be conceived - one that exists in both the mind and reality.
6. But God is defined as the greatest conceivable being, so a greater being cannot be conceived.
7. Therefore, God must exist in both the mind and reality.
Critics of the ontological argument have raised several objections. One of the main objections is that existence is not a property that can be attributed to an object. They argue that existence is not a predicate like other qualities such as color or shape. Therefore, the argument fails to prove the existence of God.
Another objection is that the argument relies heavily on the definition of God as the greatest conceivable being. Critics argue that this definition is subjective and varies from person to person. What one person considers the greatest conceivable being may differ from another person's conception. Therefore, the argument lacks objective validity.
Despite these objections, the ontological argument continues to be debated and refined by philosophers. Some philosophers, such as René Descartes and Alvin Plantinga, have presented modified versions of the argument that address the objections raised by critics.
In conclusion, the ontological argument for the existence of God is a philosophical argument that posits the existence of God based on the concept of God as a necessary being. While it has faced criticism and objections, it remains a significant and thought-provoking argument in the field of philosophy.