PHIL4406 Lecture Notes - Ontological Argument, Omnipotence, Omnibenevolence
Document Summary
In this essay, i will use excerpts from descartes fifth mediation to ultimately show how his ontological argument proving the existence of god is valid but not sound. First, i will briefly describe what exactly an ontological argument is and what it entails. Second, i will strive to reconstruct the argument descartes forms. Third, i will establish that the argument is valid. Fourth, i will that the argument is unsound by examining certain definitions descartes uses and by questioning the concept of conceivability. Fifth, i will consider alternate responses to my previous objections to the unsoundness of the argument. Ontological arguments are arguments that attempt to prove the existence of god. They start in possibility and end in actuality or necessity. Descartes" argument begins with the possibility of god"s existing and, through using definitions and observations, ends up proving god. Descartes ontological proof of god"s existence, can be broken up into three sections.
