The Ontological Argument
In essence:
- It’s a purely logical argument, attempting to prove God’s existence from the very concept of God.
- It argues that the definition of God as the “greatest conceivable being” necessitates His existence in reality.
Detailed Explanation
- Definition of God: The argument starts by defining God as “that than which nothing greater can be conceived.” This means God is the most perfect being imaginable, possessing all possible perfections to the highest degree.
- Existence in the Understanding: Even atheists or those who doubt God’s existence understand this concept of God. Thus, God exists at least as an idea in the mind.
- Existence in Reality is Greater: Anselm proposes that existence in reality is greater than existence merely in the understanding. A real, existing being is superior to a being that exists only as a concept.
- God Cannot Exist Only in the Understanding: If God, the greatest conceivable being, existed only in the understanding, then we could conceive of something even greater – a being that exists both in the understanding and in reality. This would contradict the definition of God as the greatest conceivable being.
- Conclusion: Therefore, God must exist not only in the understanding but also in reality.
Examples
- Imagine the concept of a “perfect circle.” Even if no perfect circle exists in the physical world, the concept of it exists in our minds. Anselm would argue that with God, the concept is so perfect that it necessitates its existence in reality.
- Think of a treasure chest. A treasure chest full of gold and jewels is greater than an empty one. Similarly, a God who exists is “greater” than a God who exists only in the mind.
Proponents of the Argument
- St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109): The original proponent of the argument, presented in his work “Proslogion.”
- René Descartes (1596-1650): The French philosopher offered his own version of the ontological argument, emphasizing God’s perfection and necessary existence.
- Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716): The German polymath further developed the argument, focusing on the possibility of God’s existence and the principle of sufficient reason.
- Alvin Plantinga (1932-present): A contemporary philosopher who has offered a modal version of the ontological argument, using possible worlds semantics.
Opponents of the Argument
- Gaunilo of Marmoutiers (11th century): A contemporary of Anselm, Gaunilo famously objected with the “perfect island” analogy, arguing that the same logic could be used to prove the existence of anything perfect, which is absurd.
- Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): While acknowledging the argument’s merits, Aquinas believed that God’s existence could be more convincingly demonstrated through a posteriori arguments based on observation of the world.
- Immanuel Kant (1724-1804): Kant argued that existence is not a predicate or property that can be added to a concept. Thus, you cannot define something into existence.
- Bertrand Russell (1872-1970): Russell criticized the argument as a linguistic trick, arguing that it conflates the concept of existence with the actual existence of a being.
In Conclusion:
The ontological argument remains a subject of intense philosophical debate. Its proponents see it as a powerful demonstration of God’s existence based on pure reason and the very concept of God. Its critics find flaws in its logic and argue that it doesn’t provide sufficient evidence for God’s existence in the real world.
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post