PHL201H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Ontological Argument
Midterm
7 questions answer 4, one from each class since Oct.4
2 types of questions:
What are Augustine’s reasons for believing X
Chunk of text with blanks and you have to fill them in
Ontological Argument for the Existence of God
- Problems for Boethius:
• If for God everything is present, then it looks like God’s foreknowledge isn't really
foreknowledge (it is only foreknowledge from our perspective)
• If for God everything is present then of course God sees everything in front of him (past,
present and future) then it seems like God doesn't know any change.
Is it possible to prove the existence of God? if so, how?
Anslem
- ontological proof of the existence of God
- Aquinas’s Five Ways
• Proof from motion— it is evident to our sense that some things are in motion but whatever
is in motion is put in motion by another. This cannot go into infinity therefore it is necessary
to arrive that there is a first mover put in motion by no other, God.
• Proof starts by determined experience
God is something than which nothing greater can be thought- this is just what the name
God means. This is not debatable, even if we don't think God exists we can accept that if he did
this would be the right way of thinking about him.
If you can understand an expression, then the thing that you understand is in your mind.
Clearly there is a difference between existing in the mind alone and in reality, it is greater to
exist in reality than to exist in the mind alone.
If God existed in the mind alone, it would be possible to think of something greater than it
(imagination?) This however, cases a problem: for in tis case that than which nothing greater
can be thought is something than which something greater can be thought (contraditction)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
7 questions answer 4, one from each class since oct. 4. (cid:1688)ontological(cid:1689) proof of the existence of god. Aquinas"s five ways: proof from motion it is evident to our sense that some things are in motion but whatever is in motion is put in motion by another. This cannot go into infinity therefore it is necessary to arrive that there is a first mover put in motion by no other, god: proof starts by determined experience. God is something than which nothing greater can be thought- this is just what the name. This is not debatable, even if we don"t think god exists we can accept that if he did this would be the right way of thinking about him. If you can understand an expression, then the thing that you understand is in your mind.
