What does the ontological argument state?

Ontological argument, Argument that proceeds from the idea of God to the reality of God. It was first clearly formulated by St. Anselm in his Proslogion (1077–78); a later famous version is given by René Descartes. Anselm began with the concept of God as that than which nothing greater can be conceived.

What is Kant’s ontological argument?

Kant’s refutation of the ontological argument-which states that from the concept of a being containing every perfection it is possible to infer its existence-is well known: “In whatever manner the understanding may have arrived at a concept, the existence of its object is never, by any process of analysis, discoverable …

What is the ontological argument quizlet?

This argument states that if I can conceive of God, he must exist. You just studied 21 terms!

What is the ontological theory?

Ontology is the branch of philosophy that studies concepts such as existence, being, becoming, and reality. Ontological theories can be divided into various types according to their theoretical commitments.

What is the Ontological Argument for God’s existence?

As an “a priori” argument, the Ontological Argument tries to “prove” the existence of God by establishing the necessity of God’s existence through an explanation of the concept of existence or necessary being . Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury first set forth the Ontological Argument in the eleventh century.

Who was responsible for the ontological argument for the existence of God?

St. Anselm of Canterbury
The first, and best-known, ontological argument was proposed by St. Anselm of Canterbury in the 11th century C.E. In his Proslogion, St. Anselm claims to derive the existence of God from the concept of a being than which no greater can be conceived.

What causes existence?

Since the Universe could, under different circumstances, conceivably not exist (contingency), its existence must have a cause – not merely another contingent thing, but something that exists by necessity (something that must exist in order for anything else to exist).

What is the ontological argument for the existence of God?

Ontological Argument. For something to exist in a “possible world” simply means that its existence is logically possible. The ontological argument for the existence of God refers to the claim that the very logical possibility of God’s existence entails His actuality. The ontological argument begins with the claim that God, by definition,…

Who was the first person to make an ontological argument?

The first, and best-known, ontological argument was proposed by St. Anselm of Canterbury in the 11th century C.E. In his Proslogion, St. Anselm claims to derive the existence of God from the concept of a being than which no greater can be conceived.

What was the ontological argument that Descartes made?

Descartes’ Ontological Argument. This comes on the heels of an earlier causal argument for God’s existence in the Third Meditation, raising questions about the order and relation between these two distinct proofs. Descartes repeats the ontological argument in a few other central texts including the Principles of Philosophy.

How is the ontological argument similar to a geometric demonstration?

Descartes often compares the ontological argument to a geometric demonstration, arguing that necessary existence cannot be excluded from idea of God anymore than the fact that its angles equal two right angles, for example, can be excluded from the idea of a triangle.