PHL101Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Reductio Ad Absurdum, Gaunilo Of Marmoutiers, Ontological Argument
Document Summary
The ontological argument was originally formulated by anselm (1033-1109), a medieval philosopher and christian theologian. It is designed to convince the fool, who has said in his heart that there is no god (ps. God means something than which nothing greater can be thought. (d) (p1) the fool understands what it means to speak of something than which nothing greater can be thought. (p2) If someone understands what it means to speak of x, then x exists in their understanding. (c1) god exists in the fool"s understanding. If x exists only in someone"s understanding yet we can conceive of it also existing in reality, then x can be conceived to be greater than it is. (c3) god can be conceived to be greater than god is. For given anselm"s definition, it entails: (c4) something than which nothing greater can be thought can be conceived to be greater than it is.
